New Delhi: Ninety American political figures from Democratic and Republican circles have publicly pledged to reject political money linked with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This was disclosed by Hindus for Human Rights Action and SACRED Acts in a joint statement issued as RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat concludes his widely opposed visit to the United States.
“Today we announce a multifaith and multiracial coalition of nearly 100 political leaders who stand with us to say that American democracy will not be bought by the super-rich and their extremist agendas,” said Pushkar Sharma, Executive Director of SACRED Act.
The Nonviolence Pledge establishes three commitments for elected officials and candidates. They are:
- Reject political violence and intimidation;
- Refuse donations linked to the anti-democratic R.S.S. and its affiliates;
- Return or redirect such political contributions to pro-democracy organisations.
Both organisations said that they and their partners were announcing the “nonpartisan pledge” in response to Bhagwat’s visit.
“This pledge and its adoption by almost 100 political leaders is a historic rebuke to the RSS’s misrepresentation of South Asian and Hindu American communities,” said Ria Chakrabarty, executive director of Hindus for Human Rights Action, in a joint statement with SACRED Acts.
Though Bhagwat addressed a packed hall in New York, there were calls from bipartisan outfits including United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to not permit his visit and protests at the venue. The USCIRF has demanded sanctions against RSS, while the mayor of New York said he opposed its ideology, without preventing the visit.
The pledge has been signed by leaders from both the Democratic and Republican parties, including elected officials and candidates at the federal, state and local or municipal level in eight states, the joint statement said.
Rep. Ro Khanna, cited in the statement, said he would be donating away a $6,600 contribution he recently discovered from a pro-MAGA, billionaire with ties to the RSS. “I’m proud to lead on this pledge and re-assert my commitment to overcome the RSS and their attacks on global democracy,” he said.
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