New Delhi, March 18: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp attack on Congress and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of using a U.S. report to “defame India” and support an “anti-India narrative.”
During a press conference in Delhi, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia expressed his concerns, stating he was speaking with a “heavy heart” as Congress shared a post referencing the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report.
This report criticizes India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Bhatia also targeted Rahul Gandhi’s statement about a “shop of love,” claiming he is selling “anti-India goods.” He alleged that Congress’s official social media handle is focused on tarnishing the country’s image.
The Congress post mentioned a USCIRF recommendation calling for the Trump administration to impose sanctions on the RSS, seize its assets, and restrict its members’ entry into the U.S.
Additionally, the post highlighted that after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, India’s first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, imposed a ban on the RSS.
Bhatia claimed that the USCIRF report recommended targeted sanctions against organizations like RAW and RSS. He remarked, “Pakistan fears RAW, and now the leaders of India’s opposition seem to be standing against RAW, which is concerning.”
The BJP spokesperson also questioned Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trips, noting his meetings with U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who has previously raised questions about democracy in India.
The USCIRF’s 2026 annual report recommends that the U.S. government designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern.” It claims that the situation regarding religious freedom in India has deteriorated, particularly with increased discrimination and violence against Muslim and Christian minorities.
The report also references legislative measures such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
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