New Delhi, June 17: The demand for the public disclosure of the registration, legal status, and financial information of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has intensified following comments from Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge. Alok Kumar, the international president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), has come to the defense of the RSS, asserting that the organization adheres to all laws of the country and that the questions raised regarding its registration lack legal merit.
In an interview with a news agency, Kumar emphasized that every institution in India must comply with the law, and according to his understanding, the RSS fully complies with all legal requirements. He challenged Kharge to clarify which specific law mandates the registration of the RSS. Kumar explained that the RSS is classified as an ‘Association of Persons’ under the law, and there is no legal obligation for its registration.
Addressing concerns about the RSS’s income and financial transparency, Kumar noted that the courts have already ruled on this matter. He mentioned that the organization holds an annual Gurudakshina event, which serves as a source of income through contributions from its volunteers. Kumar stated that the RSS does not accept funds from external sources; it operates solely on the contributions of its volunteers.
He recounted that during the years 1967-68 and 1975-76, income tax officials had acknowledged that the RSS’s income was taxable. However, the organization contested this in the High Court, which ruled that the RSS’s income is derived solely from volunteer contributions and, due to the principle of ‘mutuality,’ is exempt from income tax.
Kumar further pointed out that during the ten years of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government, no objections were raised regarding this issue. He claimed that following the court’s decision, the CBDT issued an order clarifying that the Gurudakshina contributions from volunteers are outside the scope of income tax based on the principle of mutuality.
Responding to Kharge’s remarks, Kumar suggested that the minister should have verified the facts before engaging in what he termed “cheap politics.”
It is noteworthy that Priyank Kharge had written to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, requesting the public disclosure of the organization’s registration, legal framework, and financial details. This has sparked a wave of political reactions.
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