Sanctioning Hypocrisy: The RSS and the Limits of Diplomacy The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom's (USCIRF) call to impose sanctions on members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) reflects a deeper issue: the West's inconsistent approach to dealing with Hindu nationalism and its implications for religious minorities worldwide.
The RSS, often described as the ideological parent of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has long been accused of promoting a brand of Hindu supremacy that has led to attacks on minority communities.
The USCIRF's chair, Asif Mahmood, has characterized the RSS as an umbrella organization with affiliates responsible for egregious human rights abuses.