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www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 4 CITY VIEWS March 27, 2026 HinduPACT American Hindus Against Defamation Releases Research Report Examining USCIRF’s Escalating Calls For Sanctions On RSS And Broader Implications For American Hindus First-of-Its-Kind Longitudinal Study of Two Decades of USCIRF Reports -MARCH 18, 2026, WASHINGTON, DC, H induPACT today announced the release of a new research report, USCIRF Reporting on India (2007– 2026): A Longitudinal Analysis of Narrative Frames and Hindu Organization Mentions , which examines two decades of U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reporting on India and documents what the report describes as a progression from descriptive monitoring to punitive policy recom- mendations targeting Hindu organizations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The report finds that by 2026, USCIRF’s posture had shifted to explicitly recommending that the U.S. govern- ment evaluate RSS for targeted sanctions, including freez- ing assets and barring entry into the United States, while also urging similar measures against India’s external intelligence agency. According to the report, this marks the first time in the 20-year period studied that RSS was moved from being described as an “influential group” to being recommended as a sanctions target. Framed as a research study rather than an advocacy document, the report analyzes USCIRF’s narrative evolu- tion across annual reporting cycles from 2007 through 2026. It identifies a pattern of “escalation of naming,” moving from generalized references such as “Hindu mobs,” to “RSS-linked groups,” and ultimately to recom- mendations for targeted asset freezes and visa bans. The report further argues that the RSS is widely recog- nized for its unparalleled social service, education, relief, and cultural activities in India. In that context, efforts to publicly frame the organization through a sanctions lens risk extending stigma beyond one institution to the wider Hindu civic experience in post-colonial India and among diaspora communities abroad. For American Hindus, such framing may contribute to misunderstand- ing of Hindu charitable and cultural work and reinforce patterns of suspicion toward temples, nonprofits, and community organizations.” “The release of this research report is intended to inform policymakers, journalists, academics, and the public about the serious implications of USCIRF’s latest recommendations,” said Ajay Shah, Founder and Executive Chair, HinduPACT. “When a large, longstanding Hindu social organization is discussed in the same sanctions frame- work as state agencies, the consequences do not remain confined to foreign policy debates. They inevitably affect ordinary American Hindus, their institutions, and their sense of belonging in the United States.” The report argues that such framing can have signifi- cant downstream effects on American Hindus. It warns that broad narrative compression can blur the distinction between organizations in India and legally autonomous Hindu American nonprofits, charities, temples, and civic groups in the United States. It also highlights the risk of financial de-risking, donor hesitation, enhanced scrutiny of Hindu organizations, and the spread of loyalty tests for American Hindus in public, civic, and professional life. The study further notes that stigmatizing rhetoric tied to the “Transnational Repression” label or stigmatizing the term “Hindutva” (which means the essence of Hindu dharma) can contribute to identity-based bullying in schools and universities and may increase vulnerability for Hindu temples, community institutions, and small businesses. “American Hindus should not be made collateral dam- age in increasingly politicized narratives about India,” Shah added. “Research matters because it allows institu- tions and communities to examine patterns, methods, and consequences with rigor. This report raises legitimate questions about whether USCIRF has moved beyond monitoring religious freedom concerns into advocating coercive measures that can stigmatize Hindu identity far beyond India.” The report also concludes that USCIRF’s recommen- dations have evolved from concern over local incidents to what it describes as “active policy warfare,” culminat- ing in calls to impose material penalties on RSS and to treat Hindu organizational networks through a punitive, national-security lens. It states that this trajectory has implications not only for U.S.-India relations but also for how American Hindus are perceived in civic and policy spaces. HinduPACT said the report is being released to encour- age serious, evidence-based discussion about the use of official U.S. platforms to characterize Hindu organiza- tions and the ripple effects those characterizations may have on American civil society. Press Release On UN Observance Of International Day To Combat Islamophobia, India Points To Its Secular Ethos P ointing out India’s multicultural and pluralistic society, India’s Per- manent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, said, “The philosophy of :Sarva Dharma Sambhava: implying equal respect for all religions has been the civilizational way of life for India and one that inspired the secular ethos of Indian Constitution.” “India more than any other country, is acutely aware of the need for a world free from religious discrimination,” he emphasized. Harish was speaking at the com- memoration of The International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 16, 2026, at the UN, co-organized by the Office of the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, in collaboration with the Organization of Islamic Coopera- tion (OIC). Reminding the General Assembly about India’s 200 million large Muslim popula- tion which elects its own representatives, Harish said, “Muslims in India, including those in Jammu and Kashmir, elect their own representatives to speak for them.” India also pointed out the redundancy of holding a day to combat Islamopho- bia when the UN itself had put forth a declaration in 1981 to work impartially regardless of any religious affiliations of any country or people. The 1981 Declaration on the Elimina- tion of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief stipulates the rights of all of all religious followers without privileging any. Harish pointed out that singling out a religion to pay attention to it is politicizing it and cautioned against agencies which indulge in this. “We, therefore, urge caution against frameworks that exclusively focus on one faith, without addressing the broader phenomenon of religiophobia in all its manifestations,” Harish said. He pointed out that Islamophobia can sometimes not just be directed at, but also meted out by those claiming to be victims of it. Referring to “India’s western neighbor”, Harish said, “One wonders what would brutal repression of Ahmadiyyas in this country be termed, or the large scale re- foulement of the helpless Afghans or air- bombing campaigns in this Holy Month of Ramadan?” The UN was formed to work for peace among all people, and not any particular people of any particular religion, Harish stated. “The UN has built its credibility through tireless work on conflict resolu- tion, poverty alleviation, and protection of civilians. We urge the UN to remain anchored to this founding spirit,” he said, at the same time assuring the General Assembly of India’s commitment to the cause. UN Secretary General, António Guterres, urged the Member States to commit to action. Referring to the spread of hate through internet, Guterres said, “Technology companies have a responsi- bility. Online spaces should bring people together, not drive them apart. They must do far more to identify, prevent, and ad- dress hate speech and harassment.” President of General Assembly, An- nalena Baerbock, also cautioned that technology companies, governments, international institutions and civil society must play a proactive role in challenging harmful stereotypes. Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé of Spain, the United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, and High Rep- resentative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), reemphasized his commitment to combating Islamo- phobia. OIC Permanent Observer, Ha- meed Opeloyer, pointed out that Islamo- phobia also “undermines human dignity, pluralism, and the freedom of religion or belief for all.” The event also featured addresses by the representatives of UN Member States and experts that cover Human Rights, racial discrimination and discrimination based on religion or belief. Other speakers highlighted the need for concrete action from governments to protect religious freedom, and to combat misinformation, calling for increased solidarity in combating bigotry, xeno- phobia, and hate crimes against Muslims worldwide. The International Day to Combat Islamophobia is observed annually on March 15, established by UN General As- sembly Resolution 76/254 in 2022. By Archana Adalja PHOTO :@INDIAATUN,NYVIDEO GRAB India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni.