Advocacy group HinduPACT has lashed out at the USCIRF for opposing RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's visit to New York, accusing the commission of fueling an anti-Hindu narrative.
- HinduPACT condemned USCIRF members for opposing RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's New York visit.
- USCIRF officials called for sanctions against the RSS.
- HinduPACT accused the commission of exceeding its mandate to promote an anti-Hindu agenda.
The US-based advocacy group HinduPACT has issued a strong condemnation against members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) following their public opposition to the New York visit of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. This confrontation has intensified debates regarding anti-Hindu bias and the politicization of human rights advocacy in the United States.
USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood and Commissioner Gene Mills expressed their opposition to Bhagwat's visit and further urged the US government to impose sanctions on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This stance has drawn significant backlash from the Hindu diaspora.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this incident highlights a growing friction between religious identity and political lobbying in American institutional frameworks. When taxpayer-funded commissions engage in rhetoric targeting specific religious leaders, it challenges the core principles of pluralism and neutral religious oversight.
USCIRF has disgraced its mandate; the chair sounds less like a leader of a pluralistic commission and more like an advocate for a hardened anti-Hindu narrative.
Ajay Shah, founder and chair of HinduPACT, accused the commission of straying far beyond its legal mandate. He criticized the commission for backing a narrative that he described as systematically anti-Hindu. Shah also pointed to other organizations, including CAIR, IAMC, and Hindus for Human Rights, for their roles in opposing the visit.
Historical Background
The RSS has a long-standing history of involvement in social service, including disaster relief, education, and village upliftment programs. HinduPACT maintains that decades of service-oriented work cannot be overshadowed by what they term as "hostile talking points" designed to mischaracterize the organization's intent.
The group emphasized that American Hindus are increasingly aware of a pattern where Hindu self-assertion is labeled as extremism by specific interest groups. They have called upon elected officials and community leaders to reject what they describe as sectarian lobbying masquerading as human rights work.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was the specific demand made by USCIRF members?
USCIRF members Asif Mahmood and Gene Mills called for the US government to impose sanctions on the RSS.
2. Which organizations did HinduPACT name alongside USCIRF?
HinduPACT also criticized CAIR, IAMC, and Hindus for Human Rights for opposing Bhagwat's visit.
