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Religion
US Religious Freedom Commission urges sanctions on RSS, opposes Mohan Bhagwat’s India visit
✍️ Times of India
🗓 20 Aug 2026, 11:39 AM
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The US Commission on International Religious Freedom called for sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and criticised the planned visit of its chief, Mohan Bhagwat, to India.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued a statement urging the United States government to consider sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over concerns about the organization’s impact on religious liberty.
The commission also voiced strong opposition to the scheduled visit of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to India, arguing that the trip could undermine global efforts to safeguard religious freedom.
USCIRF cited several incidents where the RSS has been linked to hate speech and violence targeting minority communities, and it called for diplomatic pressure to address these issues.
The statement comes as Indian officials prepare for Bhagwat’s meetings with political leaders, raising the prospect of heightened scrutiny in bilateral discussions on human rights.
At the time of reporting, neither the Indian government nor the RSS had issued a response to the commission’s remarks.
The commission also voiced strong opposition to the scheduled visit of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to India, arguing that the trip could undermine global efforts to safeguard religious freedom.
USCIRF cited several incidents where the RSS has been linked to hate speech and violence targeting minority communities, and it called for diplomatic pressure to address these issues.
The statement comes as Indian officials prepare for Bhagwat’s meetings with political leaders, raising the prospect of heightened scrutiny in bilateral discussions on human rights.
At the time of reporting, neither the Indian government nor the RSS had issued a response to the commission’s remarks.