Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has invited former Reserve Bank of India Chief Raghuram Rajan to address the World Hindu Congress to be held at Chicago, reported The Economic Times on Wednesday.

The decision to invite Rajan is significant because some leaders in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were critical of Rajan's policies when he was the RBI governor, the report said.

Rajan had returned to his academic career at the University of Chicago after his term as RBI governor ended in September 2016, and later said that although he was willing to serve a second term there was no offer from the government.

He has been invited to speak at the event that will be held in September to commemorate 125 years of Swami Vivekananda’s historic address to the Parliament of World Religions.

“He has said he will try, so we are hoping he will make it,” an organizer was quoted as saying.

The other guests invited to the event, held once in four years, include RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Hollywood star Richard Gere and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, as per the report.

The World Hindu Congress, when it was held at Delhi back in 2014 saw the participation of 1,800 delegates from over 50 countries as well as nearly eight ministers, the report said.