World · India Bureau
U.S. Commission Calls for RSS Ban Ahead of Leader's New York Visit
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged the American government to impose sanctions against India's Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, while also calling for official officials to avoid meetings with the organization's leadership.
LSN India ·
Officials from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) have formally requested that the American government impose restrictions on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), India's largest Hindu nationalist organization, according to statements made ahead of a planned visit by senior RSS leadership to New York.
The commission has additionally appealed to U.S. government authorities to refrain from holding official meetings or engaging in diplomatic interactions with RSS leaders during their time in the United States. The calls come as part of USCIRF's broader assessment of religious freedoms and minority protections globally.
USCIRF, an independent federal agency that monitors religious freedom internationally, has previously raised concerns regarding the RSS and its ideological positions. The organization has cited various reports related to religious minority communities in India as the basis for its recommendations to the U.S. State Department.
The timing of these appeals underscores ongoing tensions between international human rights bodies and the RSS, which has faced international scrutiny over its perceived stance toward religious minorities. USCIRF's recommendations, while not binding on the U.S. government, carry significant weight in policy discussions regarding bilateral relations and human rights considerations.