IOCUSA questions RSS outreach as Mohan Bhagwat begins US visit

Newyork,UPDATED: Aug 26, 2026 16:50 IST

The Indian Overseas Congress' US chapter on Tuesday expressed concern over RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's visit to the United States, questioning the organisation's attempt to present itself to American audiences as a cultural body promoting "universal oneness" and "civilisational dialogue".

In a statement, the Indian Overseas Congress in the US, or IOCUSA, said American political, business, religious and civic leaders engaging with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh representatives should understand what it described as the organisation's "history, ideology and political consequences". It also raised concerns over "religious nationalism and minority rights" and said the RSS's overseas messaging should be seen alongside its "historical ideological record".

Bhagwat arrived in the US on Tuesday as part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach programme. He is scheduled to address a gathering of around 5,000 people at the iconic Madison Square Garden on August 29.

The RSS has said the visit has three main objectives: presenting a factual and positive perspective on India, Hindu society and the organisation; conveying the message of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" or "the world is one family"; and increasing dialogue with mainstream society on the interests and rights of Hindus and people of Indian origin.

In its statement, IOCUSA said the RSS could not be judged only by the language used during an overseas public relations campaign and argued that its ideological record also needed to be considered. "Hinduism, one of the world's great and ancient religious traditions, must not be confused with Hindutva political ideology," it said. "Millions of Hindus in India and throughout the world embrace pluralism, democracy and peaceful coexistence. Our criticism is directed not against Hinduism or Hindus, but against the political weaponisation of religious identity."

It added that while the RSS may speak of "oneness" abroad, "genuine unity cannot be built by demanding conformity at home". The IOCUSA said human rights organisations, religious freedom monitors, journalists and civil society groups had raised concerns about discrimination, hate speech and violence affecting minorities in India. It also said there could be no "credible message of national unity" when minorities lived with fear that their faith, culture or patriotism would constantly be questioned. "There is no meaningful democracy when the worth of citizenship is measured by religious identity," it added.

The statement came as Bhagwat began his US tour under the RSS's global outreach programme, with the IOCUSA arguing that the organisation's public messaging overseas must be viewed together with what it called its ideological and political record.

With PTI Inputs

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