The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization widely described by critics as paramilitary and known as the ideological parent of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has built a significant presence in the U.S., according to a June 2 UCA News report.
The outlet reported that the RSS operates hundreds of local branches across the U.S. through its international wing, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). In 2025, the group ran 267 shakhas — local gatherings where volunteers meet daily — in 33 states and launched a major campaign to improve its image among Christian leaders in several major cities, according to UCA News.
The expansion comes as the RSS faces scrutiny from U.S. religious freedom advocates and Indian evangelical leaders, who warn that the group has helped fuel anti-Christian rhetoric and pressure in India. In its 2026 annual report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended targeted sanctions against the RSS, citing its alleged role in violations of religious freedom in India, particularly against Christians and Muslims.
RSS launches high-level lobbying and US outreach effort
In January 2025, the RSS hired prominent Washington lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs for work related to U.S.-India bilateral relations and outreach to U.S. officials, according to UCA News. The outlet reported that the firm received $330,000 in the first three quarters of the year before eventually terminating the contract amid controversy about whether the work should have been registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, as well as the firm’s simultaneous work for Pakistan.
RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale visited Washington in April 2025, where he participated in a fireside chat at the Hudson Institute and gave an interview to National Public Radio, UCA News reported. The visit was part of a broader international tour aimed at countering perceptions of the RSS as a paramilitary group linked to violence against religious minorities.
According to the outlet, the organization has also attempted to cultivate ties in the Trump administration, particularly by reaching out to Indian-origin officials in senior positions, though none has publicly spoken on its behalf.
Christian leaders raise concerns
Indian evangelical leaders and U.S. Christian advocacy groups, including the National Association of Evangelicals, have pressed Washington to address what they describe as rising hostility toward Christians in India. They point to anti-conversion laws in multiple states, restrictions on foreign funding for NGOs under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, and hundreds of documented incidents of violence.
>> Rep. Smith says Rubio faces ‘tall task’ in India amid religious freedom concerns <<