RSS-linked group registers as foreign agent in United States

RSS Friends, an advocacy organisation with connections to the Hindu nationalist outfit, has completed registration with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The registration document identifies Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's headquarters at Keshavkunj, New Delhi, as the organisation's foreign principal, according to filings reviewed by news agencies.

The group provided a Georgia address in its registration paperwork, establishing what appears to be a U.S.-based operational base. The registration requirement stems from FARA provisions that mandate disclosure when organisations engage in lobbying, public relations, or informational activities on behalf of foreign entities or governments.

According to the filing, RSS Friends aims to conduct public outreach activities in the United States, though specific details about its planned operations remain limited. The organisation has stated that part of its mission involves correcting what it views as misrepresentations and factual inaccuracies regarding the RSS in American public discourse and media.

The registration represents an escalation in efforts by RSS-affiliated groups to establish a formal presence in the United States. Previous attempts at international expansion by Hindu nationalist organisations have drawn scrutiny from civil liberties groups and some Indian diaspora communities who harbour concerns about the ideological underpinnings of such initiatives.

U.S. authorities continue to maintain databases of all registered foreign agents, with filings available for public review. The registration does not constitute approval or endorsement by the U.S. government, but rather fulfils a transparency requirement for organisations working on behalf of foreign principals.