USCIRF urged the Trump administration to revoke RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s visa over alleged religious freedom concerns, while Bhagwat is visiting New York for an inter-faith event at Madison Square Garden on August 29. The commission alleged RSS affiliates targeted minorities, a claim India rejected as biased. Bhagwat’s visit has also drawn protests and safety advisories from advocacy groups.

A US Congress-constituted advisory body on religious freedom has urged the Trump administration to revoke the visa issued to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, who is in New York as part of a three-nation trip.

Bhagwat is scheduled to address the Universal Oneness Celebrations at the Infosys Theatre at Madison Square Garden on August 29. The programme has been billed as an inter-faith gathering where he will interact with a diverse, multicultural and multi-faith audience. The visit has, however, drawn opposition from some groups and prompted a Hindu-American advocacy organisation to issue a safety advisory for those attending the event.

USCIRF raises concerns over Bhagwat visit

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said it was "deeply concerned" about Bhagwat's visit to the US. The commission alleged that members of RSS subgroups have "perpetrated violent attacks against religious minorities".