New Delhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the party’s alleged support for a report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused Rahul Gandhi of siding with “anti-India forces” and questioned his endorsement of the report, which recommends sanctions on organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and India’s external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing.

Addressing a press conference, Bhatia alleged that the Congress was attempting to defame India by highlighting the report and asked whether Rahul Gandhi had fully examined its contents.

He also defended R&AW, emphasising its role in national security and the sacrifices made by its personnel, and criticised reliance on what he described as a “biased” foreign report.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has rejected the USCIRF findings, calling the report “motivated and biased” and accusing it of presenting a distorted view of India based on selective information.

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The controversy follows the USCIRF’s recommendation that the US designate India as a “country of particular concern” and consider targeted sanctions on certain individuals and entities.