New Delhi: US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has classified the Sangh affiliates Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal as “militant religious organisations” in the recently updated “World Factbook”, an annual encyclopaedic publication of the agency.
According to media reports, the two organisations have been included under the tag ‘Political pressure groups and leaders’, which also includes the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the ruling BJP as a “nationalist organisation”.
The agency, the intelligence wing of the US government also on the list defines the Hurriyat Conference as a “separatist group” while the Jamiat Ulema-e Hind (Mahmood Madani), a “religious organisation”.
The move has made the leaders in these saffron outfits furious the two are expected to take legal action against the CIA.
Speaking to InUth, Dr Surendra Jain, VHP spokesperson and All India Secretary expressed his annoyance and said, “They are calling a patriotic organisation a terrorist organisation when they remain silent over the numerous terrorist organisations in India. I think they should come forth with their definition of terrorism.”
“The CIA is responsible for most terrorist activities around the globe. The way they promoted Jihadis in Afghanistan and Iraq. Their role has always been that of a terrorist organisation. A terrorist has no place calling someone else one,” he added.