GUWAHATI: According to national media reports, affiliates of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have been classified as religious militant outfits in the recently updated World Factbook, published by the United States of America’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The two organisations have been categorised under “political pressure groups” in the document, reported media.
A top RSS leader of Assam and the northeast, talking to G Plus under condition of anonymity said, “It is a conspiracy against India.”
He said that India had trashed a United Nations report on alleged human rights violations in Kashmir as a prejudiced attempt by vested interests to hurt India’s sovereignty and national interest. He revealed that similarly this Factbook classifications are also conspiracies against the country as organisations like VHP and Bajrang Dal are now internationally known and are working for the society in a far better manner than the organisations backed by the United States of America.
He said that there are many US backed Christian and Muslim organisations working in India, but when it came to social work no one can work like the Sangh and its affiliates.
He also said that India is economically getting stronger than America and so there are many vested interests working against India.
The national Bajrang Dal leadership, talking to national media, had said that they are consulting experts to seek legal advice to counter this classification.
Northeast VHP secretary, Sashi Bhushan Deka said, “We are with our central leadership.”
The World Factbook is an annual publication of the United States’ intelligence organisation CIA, which provides information on the history, people, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military and transnational issues for 267 world entities.
It is prepared by the CIA for the use of the US government officials. However, it is frequently also used as a resource for student papers, websites and non-governmental publications. As a work of the US government, it is in the public domain.
Apart from VHP and Bajrang Dal, the Rashtriya Swayamasevak Sangh (RSS) also finds mention as a nationalist organisation. All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir is listed as a separatist group while the Jamiat Ulema e-Hind is listed as a religious organisation.