Nearly 275 signatories which includes 119 former bureaucrats including the ambassadors who served across the globe as representatives of India, 25 retired judges and 131 retired armed forces personnel undersigned a petition to seek attention towards a very disturbing and completely off-the-mark report cobbled up by United States Commission for International Religious Freedom(USCIRF). They severely slammed the USCIRF report for rendering a prejudiced and illogical representation towards religious freedom in India and the role of RSS in the country.
The signed petition says that the way to assess the credibility and balance of reports issued by bodies such as the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has to be examined by acknowledging the long-term demographic trends across the Indian subcontinent. It has to be viewed with an approach that provides a more objective and longitudinal measure of religious freedom rather than selective or episodic narratives.
Demographic trends during partition and at present
The petition inked by former bureaucrats and other veterans also present a comparitive study about the minority demographic trends in India during partition and in the current period. At the time of Partition in 1947, the undivided Pakistan of that time (including present- day Bangladesh) had a Hindu population estimated at 20.5 per cent. However, intellectual honesty seeks for disaggregation of this figure:
- Today in Pakistan, Hindus constitute approximately 1.5-2 per cent of the population.
- In Bangladesh, Hindus constitute about 7-8 per cent as of now. It highlights a significant decline of Hindu population from around 20-22 per cent in 1951(East Pakistan of that time) to their bare presence in present scenario.
Even after accounting for the geopolitical separation of Bangladesh in 1971, the sharp and sustained decline of Hindu minorities across both successor states remains a matter of serious concern which is widely acknowledged in academic and policy discourse. In contrast, the demographic trajectory in India presents a remarkable different picture reflecting continuity, stability and in some cases, growth as well. The data includes:
- Muslims in India: 9.8 per cent(1951) → 14.2 per cent (2011)
- Christians in India: approximately 2.3 per cent(1951) → 2.3 per cent (2011)
This data is taken from official census data which reflects a broad pattern of demographic expansion or stability among major minority communities over more than six decades of independent constitutional governance in India.
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.
Role of RSS is nation-building & service
In this context it shows the recurring tendency of USCIRF to portray Indian state institutions and socio-cultural organizations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in an overwhelmingly negative aspects, often without proper macro-level evidence. 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.
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.
Religious freedom is both necessary and appreciated in a globalized world but it must be exercised with intellectual rigor, fairness, and respect for all. The reports based on selective in their use of evidence are subject to reduce their own credibility and more importantly, there is need to advance the genuine cause of religious harmony and human rights.
Having been founded in 1925 during the struggle for independence from British occupation, RSS is committed to preserving and embellishing Bharat’s stature as a formidable societal and classical civilizational force to reckon with amongst comity of nations. RSS has been continuously serving Bharat’s people for the last 100 years with selfless service in areas of rural empowerment, women’s progress, healthcare and education through thousands of projects.
From time to time, RSS inspired organizations globally have been contributing their time and efforts in community service, natural disasters and supporting most vulnerable sections of the society in different countries. 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.
All six commissioners of USCIRF are appointed by US Government and funded by the American taxpayers through the US Congress. Thus the signatories of the document call upon the US Government to carry out a strict background check of all the contributors to this report in USCIRF. It will be an eye opener to the tax payers of US, whose funds are being used by USCIRF to produce highly prejudiced and untenable reports to promote hidden agenda of some anti-Bharat vested interests to vitiate their goodwill with the people of Bharat.
USCIRF in its 2025 report recommended to impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities, such as India’s Research and Analysis Wing and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS), for their responsibility towards severe violation of religious freedom by freezing those individuals or entities assets and barring their entry into the United States.
