India Rejects US Religious Freedom Panel’s Call for RSS Sanctions as Unfounded

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has categorically dismissed a call by a United States religious freedom watchdog for imposing sanctions on members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), labeling the recommendations as biased and lacking in credibility. This statement comes in light of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) recent remarks, which suggested that RSS leaders should be denied high-level diplomatic engagements.

This controversy arises just before RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s anticipated visit to the United States, a trip that has garnered significant attention. The RSS, which is closely associated with the ideology of Hindutva, serves as the ideological backbone for India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Asif Mahmood, chair of the USCIRF, pointed out in his statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is connected to the RSS, further alleging that the organization has been involved in actions against religious minorities, particularly targeting Christians and Muslims. These remarks have intensified the ongoing scrutiny of India’s religious dynamics on an international platform, leading to heightened tensions between India and the US over perceived human rights violations.

In response to the USCIRF’s assertions, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that the panel has a history of issuing “misleading and provocative statements” about India. He emphasized that the organization in question is widely recognized as biased, suggesting that India should distance itself from such entities due to their apparent agendas and lack of credibility. Jaiswal’s remarks reflect a broader sentiment within Indian foreign policy that seeks to counter external criticism regarding its internal affairs.

For several years, the USCIRF has been vocal in its annual reports regarding what it terms as the erosion of religious freedom in India. Most recently, in March, the commission recommended that the US government classify India as a “country of particular concern” due to ongoing allegations of systematic oppression against religious minorities. The Indian government has consistently rejected these claims, maintaining that they stem from a misunderstanding of the nation’s complex social fabric.

Source: scroll.in