New Delhi, March 21 As many as 275 former judges, civil servants, and armed forces veterans have criticised a recent report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which recommended a ban on the RSS. They called the report "highly motivated," reflecting "intellectual bankruptcy and deranged calculations."
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, they urged the US government to conduct a thorough background check of all contributors to this "highly prejudiced and untenable" report in USCIRF, alleging vested interests aimed at undermining their goodwill with the people of Bharat.
"USCIRF's recommendation to freeze assets, restrict the movement of Bharatiya citizens, and place restrictions on those associated with the RSS is highly motivated, and displays intellectual bankruptcy and deranged conclusions," the signatories said in a joint statement.
"All six commissioners of USCIRF are appointed by the US Government and funded by American taxpayers through the US Congress. We call upon the US Government to conduct a thorough background check of all contributors to this report in USCIRF.
"This will be an eye-opener for the US taxpayers, whose funds are being used by USCIRF to produce highly prejudiced and untenable reports to promote the hidden agenda of some anti-Bharat vested interests to undermine their goodwill with the people of Bharat," they added.
The statement also raised concerns over what it termed USCIRF's recurring tendency to portray Indian institutions and socio-cultural organizations such as the RSS in a negative light without adequate context.
"This shows the recurring tendency of USCIRF to portray Indian state institutions and socio-cultural organizations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in a predominantly negative light, often without proper macro-level evidence.
"This raises legitimate concerns about analytical balance. The RSS, with its extensive grassroots presence and contributions to social service and nation-building, may well be subject to critique, but such critique must be grounded in verifiable evidence and contextual understanding, not only on broad generalizations," it said.
They emphasised that India, as the world's largest democracy with a robust judicial system and institutional oversight, provides limited scope for violations of religious rights to go unaddressed.
"Bharat is the largest democracy in the world. Given the robust, time-tested judicial system, vibrant democratic institutions, and Parliamentary oversight, there's very little scope for individuals or organizations to go scot-free after violating someone's religious rights," the signatories added.
The signatories lauded the role of the RSS in society, stating that it has been working in various fields not only in India but also abroad, especially during times of natural disasters, while supporting vulnerable sections of society.
"Having been founded in 1925 during the struggle for independence from British occupation, RSS is committed to preserving and enhancing Bharat's stature as a formidable societal and classical civilizational force to reckon with among the comity of nations.
"From time to time, RSS-inspired organizations globally have been contributing their time and efforts in community service, natural disasters, and supporting the most vulnerable sections of society in different countries," they said.
Citing census data, the signatories said that minorities have either grown or remained stable in India, unlike in Pakistan and Bangladesh, where their populations have declined since Partition.
They noted that Hindus comprised about 20.5 per cent in undivided Pakistan in 1947 but now account for around 1.5-2 per cent in Pakistan and 7-8 per cent in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), down from about 20-22 per cent in 1951.
"Such longitudinal evidence is critical and suggests that the overall ecosystem in India has not produced the kind of sustained demographic contraction among minorities that would ordinarily indicate systemic persecution or institutionalized exclusion," they added.
A total of 275 signatories include 25 retired judges, 119 retired bureaucrats, including 10 ambassadors, and 131 armed forces officers.
The signatories include former Supreme Court judges such as Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (also former NGT chairman) and Justice Hemant Gupta, former chief election commissioners OP Rawat and Sunil Arora, former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, former NIA director Yogesh Chander Modi, and several retired IAS, IPS, and armed forces officers, among others.
The joint statement was coordinated by former ambassador Bhaswati Mukherjee and former additional chief secretary M Madan Gopal.
