August 28, 2026 (New York, NY) — The Sikh Coalition is leading the way, along with interfaith allies, in pushing back against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as its chief, Mohant Bhagwat, visits the United States.

As a reminder, the RSS is an Indian paramilitary organization and the ideological backbone of India’s current government, which is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. In their 2026 report released earlier this year, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) specifically cited the RSS as a danger to religious liberty in India. The Sikh Coalition has previously called out the RSS’s malign influence, including in a 2025 op-ed about their alleged attempt to run an unregistered lobbying effort in the U.S. Congress. Now, over the past several weeks, we have renewed our calls for action in light of Bhagwat’s trip to the United States. This work has included:

  • Sending a letter to senior State Department officials at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, urging the adoption of USCIRF’s recommendation to levy targeted sanctions and/or travel bans on the RSS;
  • Urging USCIRF to publish a strong statement about concerns with the RSS;
  • Co-authoring and pitching an op-ed about the RSS’s legacy of extremism with our allies at Hindus for Human Rights (stay tuned on our social media for the link!); 
  • Attending an interfaith press conference in New York City opposing a planned RSS event at Madison Square Garden; and
  • Collaborating with the multiracial, interfaith, and anticaste Savera Coalition on multiple reports and a nationwide organizational sign-on statement.

In light of news reports that Sikh activists are receiving new “duty to warn” notices from the FBI and Canadian Royal Mounted Police, the Sikh Coalition urges all sangat members to remain vigilant. Sangat members who believe they are under threat of transnational repression, are concerned for their safety, and feel comfortable doing so should immediately contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Note that the FBI has more information available in Punjabi, including a January 2024 Punjabi language public service announcement. Additionally, you can view all of our organizational work on this and related subjects at thesikh.co/TNR.

As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.