USCIRF has asked the US government not to give diplomatic honors to RSS leaders and not to hold high-level meetings with them.
Ban RSS Demand: Washington DC. American Religious Freedom Commission USCIRF has again adopted a tough stance regarding RSS. The commission has recommended the US government to impose sanctions on RSS leaders and not grant them diplomatic honors. This statement has come before the proposed foreign tour of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Commission Chairman Asif Mahmood said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a member of RSS and its affiliates have attacked religious minorities.
Statement came before Mohan Bhagwat’s visit
USCIRF Chairman Asif Mahmood has appealed to the US government to take strict steps regarding RSS. The Commission has talked about avoiding high-level meetings and diplomatic honors with RSS leaders.
This statement has come at a time when RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is going to visit America, Canada and Britain from August 25. On August 29, he is going to attend the ‘Universal Unity Celebrations’ program in New York.
USCIRF made serious allegations against RSS
The Commission says that RSS and its associated organizations have been accused of activities against religious minorities. USCIRF has asked the US government to consider targeted sanctions against such individuals and entities.
India’s intelligence agency R&AW was also mentioned along with the RSS in the commission’s 2026 report. The report recommends steps like freezing assets and banning entry into the US.
India has already rejected the report
The Indian government has already expressed objection to the USCIRF recommendations. The Ministry of External Affairs had described the commission’s report as biased and presenting a wrong picture of India.
India says that USCIRF draws conclusions about the country on the basis of selected incidents. The government had also talked about paying attention to incidents like vandalism of Hindu temples on American soil.
Recommendation to include India in CPC list
USCIRF has long raised questions about India’s religious freedom status. In the annual report of 2026, the Commission has also recommended declaring India as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’.
The Commission has mentioned several allegations regarding religious freedom. However, USCIRF’s recommendation in itself is not a final decision of the US government.
More than 100 organizations supported Bhagwat’s visit
There has also been talk of support from more than 100 organizations regarding Mohan Bhagwat’s proposed tour of Canada. These organizations have written a letter to the Prime Minister and Ministers of Canada and appealed to reject the demands of stopping Bhagwat’s visit. He says that before taking action against a person, there should be independent and solid evidence investigation. Also, it is said that it is necessary to follow the legal process.
What is USCIRF?
USCIRF i.e. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom is an independent federal advisory body of America. It was created under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
Its main function is to monitor the situation of religious freedom in different countries of the world. The Commission prepares its report and makes policy recommendations to the US President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.
Commission’s recommendation does not lead to direct ban
USCIRF can recommend action against a country or organization, but the final decision remains with the US government, so the commission demanding a ban on RSS does not mean that the US has banned RSS. Similarly, the recommendation to declare India as CPC does not automatically translate into US policy or sanctions.
Who is Asif Mahmood?
Asif Mahmood is the current Chairman of USCIRF. He is a Pakistani-American physician and human rights activist. His role in USCIRF was first as Vice Chairman and in 2026 he was made Chairman.
He has also been active on issues related to human rights along with medicine. After his recent statement, the role of RSS and the US Commission regarding religious freedom in India is once again in the news.
Why did the dispute between RSS and America increase?
The issue has become much discussed between USCIRF’s latest comment and Mohan Bhagwat’s upcoming foreign tour. On one hand the commission is recommending action against RSS.
On the other hand, India has been calling such reports as biased. In such a situation, Bhagwat’s upcoming visit has become a topic of political and diplomatic discussion amid the different stances of both the sides.