A U.S. religious freedom watchdog urges sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s planned visit to New York. USCIRF commissioner Gene Mills says RSS leaders should not receive honours or diplomatic courtesies, even when they are affiliated with the Indian government.
The reports describe the push as part of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s broader approach to groups it considers linked to religious freedom concerns. The outlets note the timing, with the remarks appearing in the weeks before Bhagwat travels to the United States, and focus on what the commissioner recommends rather than providing new evidence or case details.
While the coverage differs slightly in wording, all accounts attribute the call to USCIRF and tie it directly to expectations of Bhagwat’s U.S. engagement in New York. The emphasis across sources is on withholding high-level meetings and potentially pursuing sanctions, rather than on any actions already taken by U.S. authorities.
