New York, (January 21, 2015)          

In a declaratory lawsuit filed by Sikh human rights group to designate "Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh" (RSS) a "foreign terrorist organization" (FTO), a US Court has summoned Secretary Kerry.

January 21 complaint to US Court has asked to designate RSS as a "foreign terrorist organization" (FTO), "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 homogeneous religious and cultural identity".

The case filed in Southern District of New York, "Sikhs For Justice" (SFJ) v. John Kerry, US Secretary of State (15-cv-00433) has been assigned to Judge Swain. Since the defendant in this case is United States, under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure USDOS has 60 days to respond to the complaint.

The lawsuit seeking FTO status for RSS comes at a time when President Obama will be visiting India to attend the nation's 65th Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

RSS, ideological mentor of PM Modi's BJP, is already making headlines for its campaign "The Home Coming" to forcibly convert Christians and Muslims to Hindus.

The declaratory lawsuit requests the court that "RSS along with its affiliates and subsidiaries be designated as an FTO, in accordance with Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and designate RSS as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224".

The 26 page complaint by human rights group SFJ alleges that, "crimes of RSS targeting the religious minorities of India include but not limited to, instigating June 1984 military attack against holiest Sikh shrine the Golden Temple resulting in desecration of the temple and massacre of thousands of pilgrims;  1992 demolition of historical Babri Mosque; burning of Churches and rape of  Christian nuns in Orissa and elsewhere during 2008; 2002 massacre of Muslims in Gujarat; attack on several other places of worship belonging to different religious minorities; bombing of public places such as trains and buses".

On the basis of July 2014 report "Hindu Nationalism In The United States", the complaint alleges that a movement towards "Hinduizing India" is being funded by non-profit groups in the United States.

Justifying the designation of RSS as FTO, SFJ's legal advisor, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, stated that "while Sikhs have been stripped off their religious identity through Article 25(b) of the Constitution of India which labels "Sikhs" as "Hindus", Christian and Muslim communities are being targeted by RSS with new zeal ever since Modi became Prime Minister, to accomplish its agenda of turning India into a "Hindu" nation.

"In case of RSS, instead of following the law, Obama administration is warming up to BJP ruled India ignoring serious concerns raised by international community regarding persecution of religious minorities " added attorney Pannun.

FTOs are foreign organizations that are designated by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). According to DOS's website, "FTO designations play a critical role in fight against terrorism and are an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities

and pressuring groups to get out of the terrorism business". It is unlawful for a person in the United States to knowingly provide "material support or resources" to a designated FTO.

An online petition with more than 125,000 signature asking President Obama to question PM Modi "WHY Indian constitution labels "Sikhs" as Hindus?" is waiting response from the White House.