Officials from the American advisory body on religious freedom have called for a ban on the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and urged the U.S. government to refrain from meeting with its leaders or holding high-level talks with them.
This statement was made shortly before the visit of the organization's head, Mohan Bhagwat, who is scheduled to participate in the 'Celebrations of Universal Oneness' event in New York on August 29. Previously, USCIRF criticized India, demanding a ban on organizations such as RSS and RAW, a request that India rejected.
The Chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Asif Mahmud, stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a member of the RSS. He characterized the RSS as an 'umbrella organization' whose subgroups have attacked religious minorities, such as Muslims and Christians.
Mahmud's comments appeared several weeks before Mohan Bhagwat's trip to the United States, where the RSS chief will take part in the 'Universal Oneness Celebration' organized by 'American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue' (AHEAD) in New York on August 29.
USCIRF Commissioner Jean Mills emphasized that RSS leaders should not be honored, whether they are affiliated with the Indian government, participate in high-level meetings, or diplomatic protocol. He insisted that the U.S. government should focus on imposing sanctions on RSS members who are deemed responsible for violations of Freedom of Religion (FoRB).
Furthermore, the group 'Hindus for Human Rights' stated that Bhagwat's visit cannot be separated from the violence perpetrated by the RSS network against Muslims and Christians. In a post on X, this human rights group noted: 'The celebration of unity cannot conceal the politics of religious dominance.'
Moreover, in its annual report published in March, USCIRF criticized India and demanded a ban on structures like RSS and the 'Research and Analysis Wing' (RAW), as they were held responsible for the situation. However, India rejected the USCIRF report, stating that the organization constantly presents a distorted and selective picture of the country based on dubious sources and ideological narratives.
The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement on March 16, representative Randhir Jaiswal asked USCIRF to consider alarming incidents related to vandalism and attacks on Hindu temples in the U.S., as well as growing intolerance and intimidation against people of Indian origin in the U.S., instead of selectively criticizing India.