Thread by @suchitrav

Here @PieterFriedrich follows the campaign donations and exposes the systematic efforts of affiliates of the RSS & the BJP to influence the perception of Modi & his hyper-nationalistic agenda through what they call “diaspora diplomacy.”
thepolisproject.com/money-trail-di… via @project_polish

“In the American political scene, Bhutada and Pallod were the earliest RSS-affiliated campaign donors to Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and have kept close association with her — even flying to Hawaii in 2015 to attend her wedding, where they were joined by Ram Madhav of the RSS.”

“Shortly before attending Gabbard’s wedding, Madhav articulated a concept of “diaspora diplomacy.” He argued that the Indian diaspora “can be India’s voice even while being loyal citizens in those countries.”

“Diaspora diplomacy served as a key concept behind Modi’s multiple mega-receptions in the US, all of which have been organized by leaders of the American Sangh, including the 2019 Howdy, Modi in Houston.”

“While most Indian-American lawmakers spurned Howdy, Modi, Sri Preston Kulkarni attended it — despite the thousands of protestors outside chanting: “Modi, Modi, you can’t hide, you committed genocide.” Notably, the Howdy, Modi organizers are among Kulkarni’s largest donors.

“Notably, the Howdy, Modi organizers are among Kulkarni’s largest donors; at least 45 key organizers have donated over $166,000 to his campaigns for Congress, approximately $94,000 of which was donated in 2018, the year before the reception.”

“Bhutada& his pro-Hindutva fellow travelers (such as Barai) have a long track record of bringing their financial power to support candidates— irrespective of party affiliation — who are willing to help whitewash the Sangh and obstruct congressional efforts to censure its violence

“While Modi was still banned from the US, for instance, Barai backed Republican Joe Walsh, donating to him when the congressman keynoted a press conference where he called it an “outrage” that Modi was denied a visa.”

“Barai has also donated over $22,000 to Democrat Brad Sherman, an influential member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who led an effort to allow Modi to address a joint session of Congress shortly after the pogrom-tainted BJP leader’s 2014 election.”

“Congresswoman @RashidaTlaib secured her party’s nomination for a 2 term on 4 August. Yet in the days before the election, challenger Jones received a surge in donations from out-of-state donors hoping to see her unseat one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress.”

The funds, reported Arab American News, came from “an influx of supporters of Indian nationalist Prime Minister, and friend of President Trump, Narendra Modi, presumably due to Tlaib’s support of human rights in the Kashmir.”