In its 2026 annual report, a US federal government body, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has explicitly recommended targeted sanctions on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an unregistered body operating from India with branches in many countries. RSS is the ideological mentor of Bharatiya Janata Party—in power in India since 2014. USCIRF has called on the US government to 'impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities, such as India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the RSS,' for their 'responsibility and tolerance of severe violations of religious freedom,' including asset freezes and/or entry bans into the US. RAW is India’s premier foreign intelligence agency, recently implicated in the hire-to-murder plot of US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and assassination of Canadian citizen Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Niggar in Jun 2023. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 'We have taken note of the latest USCIRF report. We categorically reject its motivated and biased characterization of India. For several years now, USCIRF has persisted in presenting a distorted and selective picture of India, relying on questionable sources and ideological narratives rather than objective facts...USCIRF would do well to reflect on the disturbing incidents of vandalism and attacks on Hindu temples in the US, selective targeting of India, and growing intolerance and intimidation of members of the Indian diaspora in the US, which merit serious attention.' Meanwhile, after the US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's previous use of tariffs on other countries by declaring an economic emergency, the Trump administration has opened a new trade investigation into manufacturing in 16 countries, including India. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration will begin investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which could eventually lead to new import taxes. India and the US recently announced a bilateral trade deal, after the US reduced its tariffs on India from 50% to 18%. Concurrently, on 10 Mar, the Panjab Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning the proposed trade agreement between India and the US, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann warning that the pact could severely impact farmers and the agricultural economy (earlier coverage).
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