Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge (Image: PTI) New Delhi: Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday issued a direct challenge to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), asserting that the organisation would have to register itself if it wants to function in the state and warning that registration would bring accountability. Addressing an event in Delhi on "Why RSS registration is necessary?", Kharge said, "Aap register to karo, agar aapne kuch galat kiya hai to ban karunga." He maintained that the Karnataka government was determined to pursue the issue. "If they want to work peacefully in Karnataka, they will have to register according to the state law and the Constitution. Today or tomorrow, they will have to do it," he said. Kharge said he had written to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on the issue but claimed he never expected a response. "I knew he wouldn't reply. I knew he would run away. There may be some legal loopholes, but we will set them right," he said. Questioning the organisation's legal status, Kharge referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's description of the RSS as the country's "biggest NGO" and asked why it was not registered on the Centre's DARPAN portal. "When they have such a big family, they can at least register something. There should be accountability. They receive donations in the name of Guru Dakshina. Those donations must be brought under a transparent framework," he said. The Congress leader alleged that the RSS behaves as though the government is "its servant", claiming that it wanted to organise a march in Karnataka without seeking permission from the authorities. Building his case for registration, Kharge launched a sharp attack on the RSS's historical record. He alleged that the organisation played no role in India's freedom struggle and claimed it refused to hoist the Tricolour on January 26, 1930, instead choosing to unfurl the saffron flag. He further alleged that the RSS did not accept the national flag for decades after Independence and opposed the Constitution. "If an institution doesn't respect the Tiranga and the Constitution, why would it respect you?" he asked. Kharge also targeted Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, alleging that he advanced the two-nation theory before the Muslim League, wrote multiple mercy petitions to the British and opposed projecting the cow as the symbol of Hindutva. Drawing a political contrast, he said, "If they have Savarkar, we have Ambedkar." While giving reference to the Ram Mandir donation embezzlement row, the Karnataka minister also questioned the politics around religion, saying, "Jis desh mein hum Ram Mandir ka hisaab kar rahe hain, toh Ram ke naam par politics karne walon ka hisaab kyun nahi maang sakte?" In another sharp attack, Kharge alleged that "earlier invaders used to loot the country; now RSS is doing it," adding that India had become "Aatmanirbhar" even in that. Ending on an aggressive note, Kharge said, "If you want to save Gen Z and Gen Alpha, then we will have to remove the RSS."