US Commission Urges Sanctions Against RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has urged the U.S. government to impose targeted sanctions against members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and various Indian officials. The commission alleged that religious freedom in India continues to deteriorate, citing frequent violence and incitement used to target religious minority communities.

As part of these recommendations, the USCIRF specifically called for the revocation of the visa issued to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, which would render him ineligible for future entry into the United States. The timing of the demand coincides with Bhagwat's scheduled address at the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York.

India's Ministry of External Affairs condemned the commission's demands, describing the USCIRF as a biased institution that lacks credibility and pursues its own agenda. RSS official Sunil Ambekar defended the New York event, characterizing it as an inclusive interfaith gathering designed to promote open dialogue and mutual respect among a diverse, multicultural audience.