Cong accuses RSS of hiring US lobbying firm with Pak links

The Congress on Thursday accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of “betraying national interest” by engaging a US-based law firm linked to Pakistan to promote its interests abroad.

In a post on X, Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh alleged that the RSS had spent a significant amount of money to hire Squire Patton Boggs (SPB), a prominent American law and lobbying firm which he described as “one of Pakistan’s official lobbying arms”.

The Congress leader also referred to a recent statement by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who purportedly admitted that the organisation was not registered and did not pay taxes.

“A few days ago, the RSS chief acknowledged that the Sangh is not a registered organisation and does not pay taxes. Now, we have learnt that the RSS has spent a significant amount of money to engage one of Pakistan’s official lobbying arms,” Ramesh wrote.

Calling the development “yet another act of betrayal”, Ramesh accused the RSS of having a historical record of opposing the national freedom movement and India’s constitutional values. “This is hardly the first time that the RSS, with its long tradition of betraying the freedom movement, opposing Mahatma Gandhi and Dr BR Ambedkar, and attacking the Constitution and the national flag of India, has betrayed national interest. It is a pseudo-nationalist outfit,” he added.

The allegations come amid heightened political sparring between the Congress and the RSS ahead of the Parliament’s winter session.