USCIRF push for sanctions on RSS and RAW sparks India backlash

USCIRF's 2026 annual report has recommended that the United States impose targeted sanctions on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The document reiterates India’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern in the area of religious freedom, arguing that Hindus, Muslims, Christians and other minorities face ongoing pressure under policy measures and security actions. It asserts that actions under laws such as UAPA, FCRA, CAA, and NRC are used to curb dissent and to target minority communities, and it claims that incidents of violence, arrests, and demolition drives are part of a broader pattern of religious intimidation. The report also cites an attack in Kashmir in April that killed 26 people, framing such events as part of the broader context it uses to argue for heightened scrutiny.

India's external affairs ministry has rejected the USCIRF findings, calling the report biased and distorted. A spokesperson said the commission relies on questionable sources and ideological narratives, and urged the U.S. to address religious freedom problems within its own borders before passing judgments on other countries. New Delhi emphasizes India's constitutional commitment to pluralism and religious harmony and asserts that bilateral ties should be strengthened through constructive dialogue rather than unilateral sanctions. The government also indicated that it will continue to defend its model of pluralism and rule of law on the international stage.

Analysts suggest that sanctions could complicate diplomatic conversations ahead of any high-level exchanges, yet officials reiterate their stance that concerns about religious freedom in India are best addressed through dialogue and domestic policy reform rather than external designations. The episode underscores ongoing tensions in the wider India-US relationship over how religious freedom is defined and measured on the world stage.

#USCIRF #RSS #RAW