The United States government on Tuesday asked more time from a New York court to file a motion seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit demanding RSS be named a terrorist organization.
The suit, by Sikhs for Justice, an outfit that has filed a slew of India-related cases in US courts, seeks a court order instructing secretary of state John Kerry to name RSS a terror outfit.
And the court should issue an order doing so itself.
The government was scheduled to file a response to the suit, moved by Sikhs for Justice in January on Tuesday. But it filed a motion seeking more time.
“In lieu of an answer, the government intends to move to dismiss the Complaint,” said the motion filed by US attorney for southern district of New York Preet Bharara.
In the event this request is granted, the government would consent to any reasonable deadline for the filing of opposition papers that plaintiff’s counsel would propose.
The lawsuit, which named Kerry as a defendant in his capacity as secretary of state, said RSS should renamed a “foreign terrorist organization” for “believing in and practicing a fascist ideology and for running a passionate, vicious and violent campaign to turn India into a ‘Hindu’ nation with a homogenous religious and cultural identity”.
{{/usCountry}}The lawsuit, which named Kerry as a defendant in his capacity as secretary of state, said RSS should renamed a “foreign terrorist organization” for “believing in and practicing a fascist ideology and for running a passionate, vicious and violent campaign to turn India into a ‘Hindu’ nation with a homogenous religious and cultural identity”.
{{/usCountry}}The “foreign terrorist organization” designation has fund-raising implications for targeted outfits, preventing American individuals and entities from donating to them.
The complaint alleged RSS role in Golden Temple attack in 1984, Babri Masjid demolition in 1993, Gujarat riots in 2002 and attacks on churches and Christian missionaries.
The lawsuit also cited recent remarks by RSS leaders on India being a Hindu state and the controversial “home coming” conversion campaign.