‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions Call

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has strongly criticised the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) after it called for sanctions against members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described USCIRF as a “biased organisation” that has repeatedly made misleading and provocative statements about India. He said such organisations lack credibility and are driven by their own agendas. The remarks came after USCIRF urged Washington not to extend high-level meetings or diplomatic courtesies to RSS leaders and instead consider sanctions against members accused of religious freedom violations. The commission’s statement comes ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s scheduled visit to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, beginning August 25.