US religious freedom panel urges sanctions against RSS, no high-level meetings with its leaders

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an advisory body to the American government, has recommended sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and advised against extending diplomatic courtesies or holding high-level meetings with its leaders.

USCIRF chair Asif Mahmood said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a member of the RSS, which he described as an umbrella organisation whose sub-groups have perpetrated attacks on religious minorities. His remarks came ahead of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's scheduled visit to the U.S. for the 'Universal Oneness Celebrations' organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) in New York on August 29.

USCIRF Commissioner Gene Mills said RSS leaders, even those affiliated with the Indian government, should not be honoured with high-level meetings or diplomatic courtesies. "Instead, the USG (U.S. Government) should focus on imposing sanctions on RSS members found responsible for FoRB (freedom of religious belief) violations," Mr. Mills said.

The USCIRF posted these remarks on its official X account. In one post, Mr. Mahmood said, "India's PM Modi is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an Indian umbrella organisation whose sub-groups have perpetrated attacks on religious minorities, incl. Christians & Muslims. Now the RSS leader, Mohan Bhagwat, plans to visit the U.S."

The advocacy group Hindus for Human Rights also commented on Mr. Bhagwat's visit, stating that it cannot be separated from the RSS network's violence against Muslims and Christians. "A celebration of 'oneness' cannot conceal the politics of religious supremacy," the group said in a post on X.

In March, the USCIRF's annual report had criticised India for alleged violations of religious freedom and supported "targeted sanctions" on individuals and entities such as the RSS and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), holding them responsible in this regard.

India rejected the USCIRF report, calling it a "distorted and selective" presentation that relies on "questionable sources and ideological narratives." External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a statement on March 16, said that instead of persisting with selective criticism of India, the USCIRF should reflect on "disturbing incidents of vandalism and attacks on Hindu temples in the U.S., selective targeting of India, and growing intolerance and intimidation of members of the Indian diaspora in the US, which merit serious attention."

The upcoming visit by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has thus drawn attention from both American advisory bodies and advocacy groups, while the Indian government has maintained that such criticisms are unfounded and politically motivated.