NEW DELHI: The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has urged the US government to impose sanctions on members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), rather than honouring them with “high-level meetings.”The statement from the USCIRF comes ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s scheduled visit to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, beginning August 25.In a post on X, the commission shared remarks from Asif Mahmood, a Pakistani-American physician who serves as its chair, and Commissioner Gene Mills.Mahmood described the RSS, the ideological parent of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as an umbrella organisation, alleging that its affiliated groups had carried out attacks on religious minorities.Mills, meanwhile, said RSS leaders, even when affiliated with the Indian government, should not be given high-level meetings or diplomatic courtesies. Instead, he urged Washington to focus on imposing sanctions on RSS members found responsible for violations of freedom of religion or belief.
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The latest comments follow USCIRF’s annual report released in March, in which the commission criticised India over alleged religious freedom violations and backed “targeted sanctions” against individuals and entities, including the RSS and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s external intelligence agency.New Delhi firmly rejected the report, accusing the watchdog of presenting a “distorted and selective” picture of the country based on “questionable sources and ideological narratives.”USCIRF is a US federal government agency, but its role is purely advisory and its recommendations are non-binding.Bhagwat, meanwhile, is scheduled to undertake the three-nation visit at the invitation of various local associations and organisations associated with the Indian diaspora. The visit comes as the RSS marks its centenary year. During his trip, he is expected to interact with members of the Indian diaspora and representatives of local organisations.(With ANI inputs)
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