‘Biased, no credibility’: MEA hits back at US body over call for RSS sanctions

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday criticised the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) after the commission called on Washington to impose sanctions on members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

At its bi-weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the US body as "biased" and questioned its credibility, saying it has repeatedly made what India considers misleading and provocative statements.

"The organisation you are talking about is known to everyone as a biased organisation, and for many years, it has been making misleading and provocative statements about India," Jaiswal said.


"I would say that we should stay away from such organisations because they peddle their own agenda and, at the same time, have no credibility," he added.

The remarks came days after USCIRF urged the US government to impose sanctions on RSS members instead of giving them "high-level meetings" and diplomatic courtesies.

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 and alleged that groups affiliated with it had carried out attacks against religious minorities.

Mills said RSS leaders, including those affiliated with the Indian government, should not be given high-level meetings or diplomatic courtesies. He instead called on Washington to impose sanctions on RSS members found responsible for violations of freedom of religion or belief.

The USCIRF statement came ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's scheduled visit to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, beginning August 25.

(With TOI inputs)