US Religious Freedom Commission Urges Sanctions on India's RSS Leaders

WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called for targeted sanctions against members of India's Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), urging the U.S. government to deny high-level meetings and diplomatic courtesies to its leaders ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's scheduled visit to New York on August 29 .

In its 2026 annual report, the independent federal advisory body recommended that the U.S. impose sanctions on the RSS and India's foreign intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), for alleged involvement in systematic religious freedom violations . The commission has also recommended for the seventh consecutive year that India be designated a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) .

USCIRF's Allegations

USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood, a Pakistani-American physician, highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ties to the RSS and alleged attacks on minorities by its affiliated subgroups . The commission's report claims that the RSS, described as a Hindu nationalist organization with the mission of establishing a "Hindu Rashtra," has promoted policies that discriminate against religious minorities, including Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs .

Commissioners cited a pattern of violence and intimidation against minority communities in India, including:

• Attacks on Christians: The USCIRF noted hundreds of incidents of religiously motivated violence against Christians every year, including arson of churches, physical assaults, and destruction of Christian schools and cemeteries . Hindu nationalist organizations such as the RSS, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Bajrang Dal have been most frequently accused of inciting such violence .

• Mosque Demolitions: Critics point to the demolition of hundreds of mosques across India, including the historic Babri Masjid in 1992 and more recent demolitions in Uttar Pradesh and other states. These actions are seen as part of a pattern of erasing Muslim heritage .

• Christmas Riots and Anti-Christian Violence: Reports of violence against Christians during Christmas celebrations have been documented, with mobs attacking carolers and vandalizing Christmas decorations.

• Treatment of Minorities in Kashmir: USCIRF raised concerns about "discriminatory policies and human rights violations" in Indian-occupied Kashmir, where religious freedom is allegedly suppressed .

Commission's Recommendations

USCIRF has recommended :

• Targeted sanctions against RSS members found guilty of religious freedom violations

• Denial of high-level meetings and diplomatic courtesies to RSS leaders

• Linking U.S. security assistance and bilateral trade to improvements in religious freedom

• Suspension of arms sales to India under the Arms Export Control Act

India's Response

The Indian government has strongly rejected the USCIRF report, calling it "motivated, biased, and based on selective narratives" . The Ministry of External Affairs accused the commission of relying on "suspect sources and ideological narratives" rather than objective facts .

India's Ministry of External Affairs also questioned the commission's impartiality, pointing to the composition of its nine-member panel, which critics note lacks representation from non-Abrahamic faith traditions . In response, India raised concerns about religious freedom for Hindus in the United States, citing incidents of attacks on Hindu temples and Indian-Americans .

Critics Question USCIRF's Impartiality

Critics of USCIRF's recommendations have raised concerns about the commission's impartiality . Some argue that the commission has been "weaponized" by domestic political actors to advance narratives against India, while others have pointed to the absence of non-Abrahamic representation on the commission as evidence of inherent bias . A LinkedIn post described the USCIRF as "a waste of US tax payers' money" and "a tool in the hands of hatemongers" .

USCIRF's recommendations are non-binding, and previous U.S. administrations have largely ignored similar proposals . However, the report adds pressure on India's human rights record as the country hosts the G20 summit and seeks to bolster its global image. India continues to assert that it remains a "safe and inclusive home for minorities" with robust constitutional protections .