'Should ignore': India slams USCIRF's RSS sanctions call, terms US body 'biased'
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "'Should ignore': India slams USCIRF's RSS sanctions call, terms US body 'biased'")
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Photograph: (ANI)
India rejected USCIRF's latest remarks targeting the RSS, calling the US body biased and lacking credibility ahead of Mohan Bhagwat's planned visit to the US, Canada and UK.
The Indian government on Friday (August 21) rejected the latest remarks by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) targeting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), calling the US body biased and lacking credibility.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the commission had repeatedly made what India considers incorrect and provocative statements about the country. He said such remarks should be ignored.
"We all know this is a biased institution. For years, it has made incorrect and provocative statements about India. We should ignore such institutions, as they have their own agendas and lack credibility," Jaiswal said during a media briefing.
The government's response came after USCIRF officials called for sanctions against the RSS and asked Washington not to extend high-level diplomatic courtesies or hold meetings with its leaders.
Mohan Bhagwat's foreign visit in focus
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The comments came ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's planned visit to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom from August 25. Bhagwat is scheduled to travel at the invitation of local associations and organisations linked to the Indian diaspora.
The visit will take place during the RSS's centenary year. Bhagwat is expected to meet members of the Indian diaspora and representatives of local organisations during the trip.
RSS Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar confirmed the visit in a post on X.
"Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) Sarsanghachalak (Chief) Dr Mohan Bhagwat will be visiting the USA, Canada and the UK from 25th Aug 2026 on the invitation of overseas local associations and organisations. This coincides with the occasion of the ongoing Centenary year of RSS," the post read.
The latest exchange follows the USCIRF's annual report released in March. The commission had criticised India over alleged religious freedom violations and supported targeted sanctions against individuals and organisations, including the RSS and the Research and Analysis Wing.
