US panel urges Trump to revoke Mohan Bhagwat visa during New York visit

Washington,UPDATED: Aug 27, 2026 14:14 IST

A US Congress-constituted advisory body on religious freedom has urged the Trump administration to revoke the visa issued to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who is in New York as part of a three-nation tour. Bhagwat is scheduled to address the Universal Oneness Celebrations at the Infosys Theatre at Madison Square Garden on August 29.

The United States Commission on Religious Freedom, or USCIRF, said it was "deeply concerned" about Bhagwat's visit. India has rejected the body's claims, with the Ministry of External Affairs describing USCIRF as biased and lacking credibility.

In a statement, the USCIRF said, "The United States Commission on Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is deeply concerned about the visit of Mohan Bhagwat, chief of India's Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to the United States." The advisory body alleged that members of RSS subgroups have "perpetrated violent attacks against religious minorities".

USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood said the organisation has urged the US government to consider "targeted sanctions" against those complicit in religious freedom violations, including revoking the visa issued to Bhagwat. The group also accused the government of engaging in acts of transnational repression to "target religious minorities beyond its borders".

Bhagwat's New York event has been billed as an inter-faith gathering where the RSS chief will interact with a diverse, multicultural and multi-faith audience. Meanwhile, the X handle of the organisation hosting the event in New York became unavailable to users on Wednesday. The American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue Forum, which operates under the handle @AheadForum1, later said, "AHEAD believes the suspension may have occurred in error." It added, "We remain confident that our communications have consistently promoted universal peace, oneness, harmony, and constructive interfaith and intercultural dialogue in accordance with X's policies."

India has dismissed the USCIRF's allegations. "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," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said recently. In sum, the advisory body's call against Bhagwat's visa, India's rejection of the charges, and the temporary unavailability of the event organiser's X handle formed the main developments around his New York visit.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends