India rejects remarks by USCIRF officials
New Delhi - India vehemently rejected remarks made by senior officials of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Friday, which called for sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the USCIRF as a biased organization, stating that they have a history of making derogatory and inflammatory comments about India.
He emphasized that such organizations have their own agendas and lack credibility. Jaiswal's comments came in response to USCIRF Commissioner Gene Mills, who argued that RSS leaders, even when associated with the Indian government, should not receive high-level meetings or diplomatic courtesies. Instead, the US government should focus on imposing sanctions on RSS members responsible for freedom of religious belief violations.
USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood described the RSS as an umbrella organization responsible for attacks on religious minorities, and the commission posted these remarks on its X account. In March, the USCIRF annual report criticized India for alleged religious freedom violations and recommended targeted sanctions on individuals and entities, including the RSS and Research and Analysis Wing, for their alleged involvement in religious freedom violations.
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