Impose Sanctions on RSS: USCIRF Opposes Bhagwat Visit
Indiadailyupdate.com – “Impose sanctions on RSS” was the explicit call made by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in the weeks leading up to Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat’s scheduled August 29 trip to New York. The RSS chief was set to attend the “Universal Oneness Celebrations,” an event organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD). Long before that date arrived, however, commission officials signalled that Washington should extend no diplomatic courtesies to the RSS leadership and should consider punitive measures against individuals they held responsible for freedom-of-religion violations.
The commission’s position was unambiguous. Officials urged the US government to skip any high-level meetings with RSS figures and to withhold the protocol typically reserved for visiting dignitaries. Beyond a diplomatic cold-shoulder, the body went further, recommending that sanctions be imposed on any RSS members found responsible for infringing freedom of religion or belief in India.
Voices Inside the Commission
USCIRF chair Asif Mahmood framed the objection by describing the RSS as an “umbrella organisation” whose affiliated groups have carried out attacks on religious minorities, naming Muslims and Christians specifically. His publicly posted statement drew attention to the fact that Prime Minister Modi himself is an RSS member, making the visit a matter of direct political significance rather than a routine cultural exchange.
“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 US,” Mahmood said.
Commissioner Gene Mills pushed the argument one notch further. In a social-media post, he contended that RSS figures should be denied high-level access and diplomatic protocol in America, even when they travel alongside an Indian government delegation.
“Instead, the USG (US Government) should focus on imposing sanctions on RSS members found responsible for FoRB (freedom of religious belief) violations,” Mills said.
A Pattern of Criticism and New Delhi’s Response
The commission’s stance on the RSS is not new. Its annual report, published in March, singled out India for alleged religious-freedom violations and endorsed “targeted sanctions” against individuals and bodies it held accountable. Both the RSS and the Research and Analysis Wing appeared on that list. Advocacy organisation Hindus for Human Rights weighed in as well, arguing that Bhagwat’s upcoming appearance could not be disentangled from what it characterised as violence carried out by the RSS network against Muslims and Christians.
“A celebration of ‘oneness’ cannot conceal the politics of religious supremacy,”
the group wrote on X.
India’s foreign ministry rejected the commission’s annual assessment outright. In a March response, the external affairs ministry accused USCIRF of persistently painting a “distorted and selective” picture of India, drawing on what it called “questionable sources and ideological narratives.” Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal redirected the spotlight toward religious intolerance within the United States itself. Rather than what he termed “selective criticism” aimed at India, he urged the commission to scrutinise vandalism and attacks on Hindu temples on American soil, the selective targeting of India in its reporting, and what he described as a rising tide of intimidation and intolerance faced by members of the Indian diaspora.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “impose sanctions on RSS” mean in this context? It refers to USCIRF’s recommendation that the US government apply targeted economic or diplomatic sanctions against specific RSS members it deems responsible for freedom-of-religion or freedom-of-belief violations in India. The call was directed at individuals, not at the organisation as a whole.
Why is Mohan Bhagwat’s New York visit controversial? The visit coincided with USCIRF’s annual report naming the RSS for religious-freedom concerns. Commission members argued that extending diplomatic protocol to the RSS chief would signal US endorsement of an organisation they associate with attacks on religious minorities, undermining the purpose of the “Universal Oneness Celebrations.”
How did India respond to the sanctions call? The external affairs ministry dismissed the commission’s findings as “distorted and selective,” citing “questionable sources and ideological narratives.” Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal countered by pointing to anti-Hindu incidents in the United States and urged the commission to examine intolerance on American soil before issuing further recommendations about India.
