The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) publicly opposed a scheduled visit to the United States by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, which is set to take place later this month in New York.
In a statement released on X, members of the USCIRF stated that the US government should focus on imposing sanctions on RSS members found guilty of violating religious freedoms.
“India’s PM Modi is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an Indian umbrella organization whose sub-groups have perpetrated attacks on religious minorities, incl. Christians & Muslims. Now the RSS leader, Mohan Bhagwat, plans to visit the US,” said Asif Mahmood, the chair of USCIRF, which is an agency of the American legislative branch created in 1998. Its members are appointed by the President and top lawmakers although the organisation states that it functions independently of the US government.
“RSS leaders, even when affiliated with the Indian government, should not be honored with high-level meetings or diplomatic courtesies. Instead, the USG should focus on imposing sanctions on RSS members found responsible for FoRB (Freedom of Religious Belief) violations,” added USCIRF member Gene Mills.
Earlier this year, the agency created a stir when it recommended the use of targeted sanctions against India’s external intelligence agency and the RSS. It also called for the US government to link security assistance and bilateral trade policies towards India to religious freedom in the country while also recommending that India be designated a “country of particular concern”.
To be sure, these recommendations are not binding on the United States government and have not, thus far, played a significant role in the bilateral relationship.
This story was originally published in hindustantimes.com. Read the full story here.
