Two days after Bhagwat’s speech in New York, 90 US politicians pledge to not take RSS-linked funding

As Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Mohan Bhagwat took the stage at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Saturday to deliver a message of “universal oneness”, a group of nearly 90 American politicians was preparing a different memo: they would not accept political contributions from entities linked to the Hindutva organisation he leads.

The pledge, announced Monday by Hindus for Human Rights Action and SACRED Acts, commits elected officials and candidates across eight American states to reject contributions connected to the RSS and its affiliates. The signatories include members of Congress, state legislators, mayors, local elected officials and candidates from both Democratic and Republican circles.

The six-page pledge also asks politicians to reject political violence and intimidation; and return money from RSS entities and supporters or redirect it to organisations supporting democracy.

Among the most prominent signatories are members of the US House of Representatives Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Ro Khanna of California and Robin Kelly of Illinois. Michigan’s newly-elected Democratic nominee for the Senate race Abdul El-Sayed was among those who signed on, as was New York’s Brad Lander, a Democratic congressional nominee who also attended protests against Bhagwat’s talk in the city on Saturday.

“I’m proud to lead on this pledge and re-assert my commitment to overcome the RSS and their attacks...

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