RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will visit America, Canada, and Britain from August 25. During this time, he will interact with the Indian diaspora. – File photo
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent advisory body on religious freedom, has called on the US government to consider banning the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and to deny diplomatic honours and high-level meetings to its leaders.
In an official statement, the USCIRF recommended that the US should impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities, such as India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), for their responsibility and tolerance of severe violations of religious freedom by freezing those individuals’ or entities’ assets and/or barring their entry into the United States.
USCIRF Chairman Asif Mahmood and Commissioner Jean Mills made remarks on Wednesday, weeks before RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to visit the United States.
Bhagwat is expected to attend the ‘Universal Oneness Celebrations’ organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) in New York on August 29.
Mahmood said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a member of the RSS and alleged that organisations affiliated with the RSS have targeted religious minorities, including Christians and Muslims.
“India’s Prime Minister Modi is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,” Mahmood said in a post shared by USCIRF on X. He added that Bhagwat’s planned US visit comes against the backdrop of concerns over religious freedom in India.
USCIRF seeks restrictions on RSS leaders
USCIRF Commissioner Jean Mills said RSS leaders should not receive high-level meetings or diplomatic honours from the US government, even when they have links to the Indian government.
Mills also called for sanctions against RSS members found responsible for violations of religious freedom.
The commission’s remarks come amid continued disagreements between USCIRF and the Indian government over the state of religious freedom in India.
What is USCIRF?
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, or USCIRF, is an independent US government body established by the US Congress under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
Its key responsibilities include monitoring religious freedom and persecution in different countries, publishing annual reports, and making policy recommendations to the US President, Secretary of State, and Congress.
USCIRF can recommend that countries be designated as “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC). It can also recommend sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and other measures against governments or organisations accused of serious religious freedom violations.
However, USCIRF is an advisory and monitoring body, not an agency that can independently impose sanctions or implement foreign policy. Its recommendations require action by the US government.
Why does USCIRF matter?
Although USCIRF does not have the power to directly implement its recommendations, its assessments can influence policy debates in Washington.
The commission was created by Congress, and its commissioners are appointed by the US President and congressional leaders from both major political parties. Its reports and recommendations can therefore become an input into US foreign policy and create political pressure on governments and organisations.
India rejected USCIRF’s criticism in March
The latest remarks follow USCIRF’s annual report released in March, which criticised alleged violations of religious freedom in India and recommended action against organisations including the RSS and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), as well as certain individuals.
India rejected the report, accusing USCIRF of relying on questionable sources and ideological narratives to portray the country negatively.
On March 16, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said USCIRF should stop its “selective” criticism of India and instead examine incidents of vandalism and attacks targeting Hindu temples in the United States.
The latest exchange is likely to add to tensions between New Delhi and the US religious freedom commission ahead of Bhagwat’s planned visit to New York.
