RSS Friends registers under US foreign agent law for outreach
A group of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh well-wishers has registered with the US Department of Justice as a foreign agent of the organisation to expand its outreach in the country, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
RSS Friends registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act on August 27 and named the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at Keshavkunj in New Delhi as its "foreign principal".
The group provided an address in the US state of Georgia in its registration document. Its proposed activities include responding to or correcting information that it believes is inaccurate, incomplete or lacking relevant context.
"RSS Friends does not have a written employment, consulting, lobbying, public-relations, or agency agreement with RSS containing specified deliverables, compensation, or detailed operational instructions," the group said.
It added that the absence of a written contract should not be understood as a representation that no relationship, request, understanding, coordination, authorisation, direction or other relevant factual connection exists. "RSS Friends will disclose the actual facts relevant to its activities," it said.
The group said its proposed work would primarily involve informational, educational, public-relations and community engagement activities. "Consistent with its governing documents and applicable law, it may communicate with members of the public, journalists, media organisations, researchers, academic and policy institutions, community leaders, civil-society organisations, and, where appropriate, government agencies or officials," it said.
RSS Friends described the RSS as an India-based volunteer and socio-cultural organisation. "The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is an unincorporated India-based body of individuals/voluntary association," it said. The group listed Rajendra Sonarikar, Jayant Pant and Devananda Gaddam as members of its board of directors.
Its proposed activities also include organising or participating in educational, cultural, community and informational events. It may also communicate, where appropriate and permitted by law, with administrative bodies, public agencies or policymakers about factual information or perspectives concerning the RSS or matters linked to the group's stated purposes.
According to Press Trust of India, the registration was submitted two days before RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's Universal Oneness Celebration outreach programme at Madison Square Garden in New York on August 29. The event was organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue Forum.
The registration, therefore, outlines RSS Friends' planned informational, educational, public-relations and community engagement activities in the US and identifies the RSS in New Delhi as its foreign principal.
