{
  "id": 5360514,
  "title": "Mohan Bhagwat's US Visit Sparks Political Fallout As 90 US Politicians Pledge To Reject RSS Funds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/mohan-bhagwats-us-visit-sparks-political-fallout-as-90-us-politicians",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T15:25:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/mohan-bhagwats-us-visit-sparks-political-fallout-as-90-us-politicians-pledge-to-reject-rss-funds"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The visit of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to the US in August sparked a political controversy as 90 US politicians signed a pledge pledging not to accept donations from individuals or organizations associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The initiative, launched by Hindus for Human Rights Action and SACRED Acts, came in response to Bhagwat's speech at the Universal Oneness Celebration at New York's Madison Square Garden.\n\nThe nonpartisan pledge, supported by politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties, includes members of Congress, state lawmakers, mayors, and local representatives from eight US states. The signatories not only refuse future contributions but also demand the return or donation of previously accepted funds from RSS-linked sources to organizations supporting democracy.\n\nAmong the supporters are Michigan-based epidemiologist and US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Representative Ro Khanna, and Illinois Representative Robin Kelly. Jayapal has described RSS as a right-wing organization and accused it of destabilizing and undermining democracy in India, while Khanna referred to the RSS as the group behind Gandhi's assassination.\n\nHowever, Hindu American groups have opposed the campaign, accusing the organizers of targeting Hindu Americans, misleading or pressuring politicians, and imposing a loyalty test on Hindu Americans.",
  "summary": "As many as 90 US politicians, including Indian-origin lawmakers Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal, have signed a pledge promising not to accept political donations from people or organisations associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The initiative was launched shortly after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat visited the US and addressed the \"Universal Oneness Celebration\" at New York City's…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}