Three American Sikh organizations have urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deny entry to Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the RSS, citing concerns over the group’s history of religious discrimination.
New Delhi – In a letter dated August 20, 2026, three Washington-based American Sikh organizations have formally requested that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio deny entry to Mohan Bhagwat, the leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), ahead of his anticipated visit to the United States on August 25, 2026. The groups assert that Bhagwat’s presence in the US would send a troubling signal regarding the United States’ stance on religious freedom and minority rights.
The RSS is widely recognized as a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization that serves as the ideological parent of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The letter, signed by representatives of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast, and American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, delineates the RSS’s history of promoting ideologies and activities that have allegedly led to violence and discrimination against religious minorities in India, particularly Sikhs, Muslims, and Christians.
Concerns Over Religious Freedom Violations
The Sikh advocacy groups expressed that allowing Bhagwat to enter the US and be honored would undermine ongoing efforts to address serious concerns regarding religious freedom violations. The letter emphasizes that this action would contradict the positions taken by US officials, including members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), who have previously raised alarms about the RSS’s role in promoting intolerance and discrimination.
“Allowing the chief of the RSS to enter and be honoured on US soil would send a deeply troubling signal at a time when US officials, including members of the USCIRF, have publicly raised serious concerns about the RSS’s role in freedom-of-religion violations,” the letter states. The groups urge that the United States should not extend diplomatic courtesies to individuals associated with organizations that have a documented history of harming religious minorities.
USCIRF’s Position
On August 19, 2026, the USCIRF issued a statement advocating for sanctions against the RSS, highlighting that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a member of the organization, which has been implicated in attacks against religious minorities. Asif Mahmood, the chair of USCIRF, remarked on social media, “India’s PM Modi is a member of the RSS, an Indian umbrella organization whose sub-groups have perpetrated attacks on religious minorities, including Christians and Muslims.”
In its 2022 report, the USCIRF designated India as a “country of particular concern” due to its engagement in or tolerance of systematic and egregious violations of religious freedom. The commission reiterated this designation in its 2025 report, citing specific legislative measures, including the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), which it characterized as discriminatory against religious minorities.
Indian Government’s Response
In response to the USCIRF’s call for sanctions, the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, dismissed the organization as biased. He stated, “It is a biased organisation. I would say that we should keep away from such organisations as they have their own agenda and lack any credibility. We do not expect that the USCIRF will engage with the reality of India’s pluralistic framework or acknowledge the harmonious coexistence of its diverse communities.”
Financial Transparency Issues
Despite branding itself as a non-governmental organization, the RSS has recently faced scrutiny regarding its financial operations. Karnataka’s Home Minister, Priyank Kharge, raised concerns in June 2026 about the RSS’s adherence to legal and constitutional standards, urging the organization to register, disclose its funding sources, and comply with applicable tax obligations.
Furthermore, a November 2025 investigation by Prism Reports revealed that the RSS had engaged the US lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs, paying $330,000 to lobby officials in the US Senate and House of Representatives. The RSS has denied any wrongdoing associated with these claims.
In July 2026, another investigation by The News Minute highlighted that 14.7% of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from the state-owned company ONGC had been allocated to organizations linked to the RSS, raising further questions about the transparency of the RSS’s financial dealings.
As the date of Bhagwat’s proposed visit approaches, the actions and statements from both Sikh advocacy groups and US officials will likely shape the discourse around religious freedom and minority rights, both in India and the United States.
