{
  "id": 3648421,
  "title": "Mohan Bhagwat in New York: US rights body again opposes RSS chief's visit, seeks visa revocation, entry ban",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/mohan-bhagwat-in-new-york-us-rights-body-again-opposes-rss-chiefs",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T02:22:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/mohan-bhagwat-in-new-york-us-rights-body-again-opposes-rss-chiefs-visit-seeks-visa-revocation-entry-ban-mamdani-11787795669261.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has once again opposed RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's planned visit to the United States, calling for the revocation of his visa and barring him from future entry into the country. USCIRF expressed deep concern over Bhagwat's visit, alleging that members of the RSS and its subgroups have perpetrated \"violent attacks against religious minorities\" in India. The commission's chair, Asif Mahmood, stated that religious freedom conditions in India continue to deteriorate due to frequent violence and incitement targeting religious minority communities. Bhagwat arrived in the US on August 25 as part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach program, scheduled to participate in the Universal Oneness Celebration and address over 5,000 members of the Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden. The USCIRF's opposition is the second statement opposing Bhagwat's visit; last week, the commission urged the Trump administration not to extend diplomatic courtesies to RSS leaders or have high-level meetings with them. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also expressed opposition to the event, acknowledging that the city may lack the authority to cancel a privately organized gathering. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India criticized USCIRF's call to bar meetings of the RSS chief in the US, labeling the rights body as \"biased\" and lacking credibility. RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar defended the \"Universal Oneness Celebration\" in New York, stating it will be an interfaith gathering with a diverse, multicultural, and multi-faith audience, reflecting the inclusive nature of the Bharatiya ethos.",
  "summary": "Mohan Bhagwat in New York: In a fresh statement issued on 26 August (US Time), USCIRF said it was deeply concerned about Bhagwat's visit to the US alleging that members of RSS and its subgroups of perpetrating ‘violent attacks against religious minorities’ in India.",
  "key_points": [
    "USCIRF opposes Mohan Bhagwat's US visit, demands visa revocation and entry ban",
    "Concern over RSS members' violent attacks on religious minorities in India",
    "Bhagwat visits US for RSS centenary program at Madison Square Garden"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}