Sanctions on the RSS: A Call for Accountability in the US

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has issued a call for sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an Indian umbrella organisation with a history of perpetrating attacks on religious minorities. The commission's chair, Asif Mahmood, has expressed concerns about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's membership in the RSS, citing the organisation's sub-groups' history of violence against Christians and Muslims.

The commission's move comes ahead of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's visit to the US next week, where he will participate in the 'Universal Oneness Celebrations' in New York. The event is organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD), and is set to take place on August 29. However, the visit has sparked controversy, with advocacy groups speaking out against Bhagwat's presence in the US.

Hindus for Human Rights, a prominent advocacy group, has condemned Bhagwat's visit, citing the RSS network's history of violence against Muslims and Christians. The group has accused the RSS of perpetrating a 'politics of religious supremacy', and has called for the US government to take a stand against the organisation.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has made it clear that it will not tolerate the US government extending diplomatic courtesies to the RSS or its leaders. The commission has urged the US government to focus on imposing sanctions on individuals responsible for freedom of religion violations, rather than honouring them with high-level meetings or diplomatic courtesies.

This move is not without precedent. In March, the commission released an annual report criticising India for alleged violations of religious freedom. The report recommended that the US government designate India as a 'country of particular concern' (CPC) for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations.

India has rejected the commission's report, labelling it as 'distorted and selective'. The External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal, has accused the commission of relying on 'questionable sources and ideological narratives'. Jaiswal has also called for the commission to be designated as an 'entity of concern', citing its 'persistent' attempts to cast aspersions on India's vibrant multicultural society.

However, the commission remains undeterred. Asif Mahmood has made it clear that the commission will continue to speak out against the RSS and its actions, even in the face of opposition from the Indian government. The commission's stance is a testament to its commitment to promoting religious freedom and holding those responsible for its violations accountable.

As the US government weighs its response to the RSS's actions, one thing is clear: the world is watching. Will the US take a stand against the RSS, or extend diplomatic courtesies to its leaders? Only time will tell.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom's Call for Sanctions

The commission's call for sanctions against the RSS is a significant development in the ongoing debate about religious freedom in India. The commission's stance is a testament to its commitment to promoting religious freedom and holding those responsible for its violations accountable.

The RSS's History of Violence

The RSS has a long history of perpetrating attacks on religious minorities, including Christians and Muslims. The organisation's sub-groups have been responsible for numerous incidents of violence, including vandalism and intimidation.

The US Government's Response

The US government is facing a difficult decision about how to respond to the RSS's actions. The commission's call for sanctions is a significant development, and one that the government will need to consider carefully. Will the US take a stand against the RSS, or extend diplomatic courtesies to its leaders? Only time will tell.

Key Takeaways

• The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has called for sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for its history of perpetrating attacks on religious minorities.
• The commission's chair, Asif Mahmood, has expressed concerns about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's membership in the RSS.
• Advocacy groups, including Hindus for Human Rights, have spoken out against Bhagwat's visit and the RSS's history of violence.
• The US government is facing a difficult decision about how to respond to the RSS's actions.
• The commission's stance is a testament to its commitment to promoting religious freedom and holding those responsible for its violations accountable.