Canadian Groups Urge Government to Deny Entry to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

More than 40 Canadian civil society, human rights, labour and faith based organisations have called on Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree to deny entry to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, who is expected to visit Canada from August 31 to September 1.

In a letter to the minister, the organisations said Bhagwat’s proposed visit raises concerns related to public safety and national security. They pointed to what they described as the RSS’s history of religious majoritarianism, intimidation and alleged involvement in transnational repression.

The coalition has also submitted a briefing paper to Canadian ministers. It argues that Bhagwat’s entry should be assessed under Canadian laws concerning inadmissibility, particularly in light of allegations involving RSS linked networks and the harassment of activists, academics and members of minority communities living in the diaspora.

The organisations involved include the Canadian Forum for Human Rights & Democracy in India, Canadian Council of Indian Muslims, Canadians for Indian Democracy, South Asian Dalit Adivasi Network, World Sikh Organization, Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Independent Jewish Voices Canada, Just Peace Advocates and several other community and labour groups.

The coalition said Canadian authorities have a responsibility to protect communities from what it described as far right extremism, hate speech and foreign intimidation.

It also warned that allowing the RSS chief to enter Canada could, in its view, create concerns for minority communities including Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jews and Dalits, while raising questions about their rights and security.

The appeal comes ahead of Bhagwat’s expected first visit to Canada. Reports indicate that he is scheduled to travel to the country on August 31 after visiting the United States as part of the RSS’s wider international outreach efforts.

Who is Mohan Bhagwat?

Mohan Bhagwat, 75, has led the RSS as its Sarsanghchalak since 2009. He previously served as the organisation’s Sarkaryavah, or general secretary, before succeeding K. S. Sudarshan as chief in March 2009.

The RSS describes itself as a cultural and social organisation. However, Bhagwat is regarded as its most influential leader and has played a prominent role in India’s broader Hindu nationalist movement.

The RSS has maintained ideological and organisational ties with the wider Sangh Parivar, a network of Hindu nationalist organisations that includes the Bharatiya Janata Party. The RSS itself is not a political party.

The organisation has also been banned by the Indian government on three occasions. The first ban came in 1948 following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. It was banned again during the Emergency in 1975 and after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. Each ban was later lifted.

Concerns over minorities and diaspora communities

The Canadian organisations’ concerns come amid continued international scrutiny of religious freedom and the treatment of minority communities in India.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has repeatedly expressed concerns about religious freedom in India and examined the role of Hindu nationalist organisations, including the RSS, in the country’s religious and political environment.

In its 2025 report, USCIRF raised concerns about the influence of Hindu nationalist groups such as the RSS on religious freedom conditions in India.

The commission has also highlighted allegations of transnational repression involving religious minorities, activists, journalists and human rights defenders outside India.

In 2023, USCIRF specifically raised concerns about allegations that India had targeted religious minorities and people advocating for their rights abroad.

The Canadian coalition is now asking the federal government to examine these concerns before deciding whether Bhagwat should be allowed to enter the country.