The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has urged the US government to consider targeted sanctions against members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Indian officials over what it described as a deterioration in religious freedom in India.
The US advisory body also called for the revocation of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s US visa and said he should be barred from future entry into the country.
Bhagwat arrived in New York on August 25 as part of a three-nation tour and is scheduled to address the Universal Oneness Celebrations at Madison Square Garden on August 29.
In a statement, USCIRF said it was “deeply concerned” about Bhagwat’s visit and alleged that members of RSS-linked groups had carried out attacks against religious minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Dalits and Sikhs.
“Religious freedom conditions in India continue to deteriorate as violence and incitement are frequently used to target religious minority communities,” USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood said.
He urged Washington to consider sanctions against RSS members and Indian officials allegedly involved in religious freedom violations, including revoking Bhagwat’s visa.
USCIRF Cites Alleged Attacks on Minorities
The commission alleged that policies under the BJP-led government were closely linked to the RSS’s Hindutva ideology and discriminated against religious minorities.
It claimed that Indian authorities had failed to prevent or adequately investigate violence against Muslims and Christians. USCIRF also raised concerns about anti-conversion laws, the treatment of Muslims in Assam and restrictions on civil society organisations under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
The commission further alleged that Indian authorities had engaged in what it described as “transnational repression” targeting religious minorities outside India, referring to alleged attempts to target Sikh activists in North America.
USCIRF Vice Chair Cece Heil said the US had an opportunity to take action on the issue.
“The U.S. government has an opportunity to hold India accountable and signal that the United States stands for religious freedom for the people of India,” Heil said.
In its 2026 annual report, USCIRF recommended that the US designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” over what it described as systematic and serious religious freedom violations.
India Calls USCIRF ‘Biased’
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has rejected USCIRF’s allegations and questioned the commission’s credibility.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had earlier described USCIRF as a “biased institution” and accused it of repeatedly making “incorrect and provocative statements” about India.
“We all know this is a biased institution. For years, it has made incorrect and provocative statements about India,” Jaiswal said.
He added that India should “keep away from such organisations” because they have their own agendas and lack credibility.
The latest USCIRF statement comes days after the MEA criticised the commission for calling for restrictions on meetings involving Bhagwat during his US visit.
Bhagwat’s New York Event
Bhagwat’s August 29 event at Madison Square Garden has been presented as an interfaith gathering where the RSS chief is expected to interact with a multicultural and multi-faith audience.
Meanwhile, the X account of the organisation hosting the event, American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue Forum (AHEAD), became unavailable on Wednesday. The organisation said it believed the suspension may have been an error.
The developments come amid renewed debate in the US over India’s record on religious freedom and the role of the RSS, with Washington-based USCIRF continuing to call for stronger action against alleged violations.
