India, Oct. 22 -- The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), a trade union affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has opened its first public office in Kashmir at Barsoo village in Awantipora, south Kashmir's Pulwama district.Tehelka e-Magazine subscription

The opening marks a shift in the public presence of the RSS and its affiliates in the Valley, where they have largely maintained a low profile and operated discreetly, particularly in border areas.

The BMS claims to have 20 affiliated labour unions in Kashmir, although most remain marginal players. The new office is expected to serve as a divisional centre for the organisation in south Kashmir and provide it with a more visible presence in the region.

The RSS has been seekin...