New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fiercely criticized the Congress party on Tuesday after its members referenced a report from a US religious freedom panel that condemned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and India's foreign intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

This backlash followed Congress leaders citing the 2026 Annual Report from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which suggested that India be classified as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to alleged declines in religious freedom.

BJP spokesperson Rohan Gupta, in remarks to IANS from Gujarat, challenged Congress’s endorsement of the report, accusing the party of colluding with entities opposed to India.

“When a report emerges from an organization based in the US, which includes individuals from Pakistan, it raises the question: why is Congress allied with Pakistan? The public can observe that while criticizing the government, some appear to be in Pakistan's embrace,” Gupta stated.

He continued, “This clearly demonstrates their animosity. The report also criticizes RAW. So, if they accept this report's findings, do they concur with the accusations against RAW? What else can we label this if not an anti-national sentiment?”

Earlier, Ajay Rai, president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress, expressed support for the report, asserting that communal harmony in India has worsened in recent years.

“The findings presented are accurate. Wherever the RSS operates, it disturbs communal harmony, and since 2014, when the BJP took power, such incidents have consistently escalated,” Rai remarked.

He further claimed that “the essence of mutual brotherhood has nearly vanished” and called for a global ban on RSS, alleging it has incited community tensions.

Additionally, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari raised alarms about the report, indicating it brings to light serious concerns regarding religious freedom in India.

“The Commission on Religious Freedom’s report is alarming. It highlights the interference of both the RSS and RAW in religious freedom, disrupting the atmosphere for such freedoms,” Tiwari stated.

He added that these findings substantiate the Opposition’s long-held claims regarding the declining religious climate in the nation.

“This is a blatant infringement of the Indian Constitution. Our assertions about the deteriorating religious environment have now been validated by this commission’s report. I am striving to bring this issue to the forefront in the House for discussion, so the government can clarify its position,” Tiwari said.

According to USCIRF’s 2026 report, the panel urged the US government to classify India as a “Country of Particular Concern,” alleging that the Indian administration facilitates violence and discrimination against religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, through legislative measures such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).