Congressman Ro Khanna clarified his limited involvement in a Washington event linked to the RSS, emphasizing he does not support the organization.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) has publicly distanced himself from an event in Washington featuring Dattatreya Hosabale, the general secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Khanna stated that he was unaware of the guest list for the event and does not endorse the organization.
Khanna explained that his participation was restricted to a pre-recorded video message that was submitted to the Hudson Institute, the think tank hosting the event, without any knowledge of the other attendees.
In a response on X to the Indian American Muslim Council, Khanna stated, “I did not appear. Hudson, a think tank, asked for a 1-minute video which we provided. Have no idea on their guest list and certainly do not support RSS in any way.”
The New India Conference, which took place earlier this week in Washington, also featured notable figures such as Vijay Chauthaiwale, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) foreign affairs in-charge, and Ram Madhav, a former national general secretary of the BJP. Additionally, U.S. officials, including Bethany Morrison, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, and former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, were present at the event.
Khanna’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about the influence of the RSS and its connections to various political entities in India and abroad. His clarification seeks to address any misconceptions regarding his association with the event and the organization.
According to India West, Khanna’s statement reflects a broader concern among some U.S. lawmakers about the implications of engaging with groups linked to the RSS, particularly in the context of rising Hindu nationalism in India.