275 former Judges, officials slam U.S. international religious freedom report

As many as 275 former judges, civil servants and armed forces veterans have criticised a latest report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which really useful a ban on the RSS.

Terming it “highly motivated”, they stated it displayed “intellectual bankruptcy and deranged calculations”.

In a joint assertion issued on Saturday (March 21, 2026), they urged the U.S. authorities to hold out a strict background examine of all of the contributors to this “highly prejudiced and untenable report” in USCIRF, alleging vested pursuits aimed toward vitiating their goodwill with the folks of Bharat.

“USCIRF’s recommendation to freeze assets, restricted movement of Bharatiya citizens and placing restrictions on those associated with RSS is highly motivated, and displays intellectual bankruptcy and deranged conclusions,” the signatories stated in a joint assertion.

“All six commissioners of USCIRF are appointed by U.S. Government and funded by American Taxpayers through the U.S. Congress. We call upon the U.S. Government to carry out a strict background check of all the contributors to this report in USCIRF.

“It will probably be an eye fixed opener to the tax payers of U.S., whose funds are being utilized by USCIRF to supply extremely prejudiced and untenable studies to advertise hidden agenda of some anti-Bharat vested pursuits to vitiate their goodwill with the folks of Bharat,” they added.

The statement also raised concerns over what it termed USCIRF’s recurring tendency to portray Indian institutions and socio-cultural organisations such as the RSS in a negative light without adequate context.

“It exhibits the recurring tendency of USCIRF to painting Indian state establishments and socio-cultural organizations such because the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in an overwhelmingly damaging facets, typically with out correct macro-level proof.

“It 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 stated.

They emphasised that India, because the world’s largest democracy with a strong judicial system and institutional oversight, supplies restricted scope for violations of religious rights to go unaddressed.

“Bharat is the largest democracy of the world. Given the robust, time tested judicial system, vibrant democratic institutions and Parliamentary oversight, there’s very less scope for individuals or organizations to go scot-free after violating someone’s religious rights,” the signatories added.

A complete of 275 signatories embody 25 retired judges, 119 retired bureaucrats, together with 10 ambassadors, and 131 armed forces officers.

The signatories embody former Supreme Court judges corresponding to Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (additionally former NGT chairman) and Justice Hemant Gupta, former chief election commissioners OP Rawat and Sunil Arora, former international secretary Kanwal Sibal, former NIA director Yogesh Chander Modi, and a number of other retired IAS, IPS, and armed forces officers, amongst others.

The joint assertion was coordinated by former ambassador Bhaswati Mukherjee and former extra chief secretary M Madan Gopal.