A United States panel has urged the Trump administration to revoke Mohan Bhagwat's visa and prevent him from entering the country due to allegations of violent attacks against religious minorities by groups associated with the RSS.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent American government agency, has called for action against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. On Wednesday, the panel urged the Donald Trump administration to revoke Bhagwat's visa and make him ineligible to enter the US in the future. This decision was made in response to concerns about Bhagwat's visit and allegations of violent attacks against religious minorities by groups associated with the RSS.
The panel stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has enforced policies that closely align with the RSS’ Hindutva ideology, inherently discriminating against religious minority communities. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom further alleged that groups associated with the RSS 'have perpetrated violent attacks against religious minorities, including Christians, Dalits, Muslims, and Sikhs' in recent years.
The commission reiterated its demand for sanctions against the RSS, a stance it had taken on August 19. On that occasion, they called for members of the RSS to not be given high-level meetings or diplomatic courtesies in the US. This new call for action comes as Bhagwat is scheduled to address around 5,000 Hindu Americans and Hindu non-resident Indians at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, during his participation in the RSS’ centenary-year global outreach programme.
India's Ministry of External Affairs dismissed these remarks as biased and lacking credibility. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the commission has been making misleading and provocative statements about India for years.
Source:
Scroll.in
