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Canadian Hindu group rejects campaign against RSS chief’s visit
Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to visit the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom from Aug. 25 at the invitation of various local associations and organizations associated with the Indian diaspora.
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Staff Reporter - Tue, 18, Aug 2026
- 00:11 EDT
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Mohan Bhagwat / IANS
A leading Canadian Hindu advocacy organization has condemned a campaign by some Canadian lawmakers and organizations against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s visit to Canada, asserting that “political rhetoric” should not replace legal due process.
The Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education (COHHE) issued the statement following a press conference on Parliament Hill on Aug. 13, where two New Democratic Party (NDP) members of Parliament, alongside advocacy groups including the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the World Sikh Organization of Canada, Hindus for Human Rights and Justice for All Canada, called on the federal government to bar Bhagwat from entering the country and to classify the RSS as a “fascist” or “extremist” entity.
Bhagwat is scheduled to visit the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom from Aug. 25 at the invitation of various local associations and organizations associated with the Indian diaspora.
The visit comes at a significant time as the RSS is observing its centenary year. During his visit, Bhagwat is expected to interact with members of the Indian diaspora and representatives of local organizations.
Responding to campaigns against the visit, COHHE said that political characterizations should not override legal due process or statutory standards.
“These are serious allegations. They must be supported by evidence, not political labels, collective accusations or religious polarization,” it said.
While acknowledging that “criticism of the RSS is entirely legitimate in a democracy,” COHHE asserted that “calling an organization ‘fascist’ is a political characterization, not a legal finding.”
@PMofCanada @MarkJCarney @AnitaAnandMP @CBC @nationalpost @CTVToronto @globalnews @globeandmail @CanadianPress @CP24 @ChrisLewisEssex @KathyBorrelliMP
— CohheOfficial (@CohheOfficial) August 16, 2026
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“If there is evidence that Bhagwat personally meets a statutory ground of inadmissibility under Canadian law, that evidence should be presented and assessed through the appropriate legal process,” it said.
COHHE said that it respects the right of NCCM, the World Sikh Organization of Canada, Hindus for Human Rights, Justice for All Canada and others to express their views, but “advocacy must not be confused with an independent finding of fact or law.”
The organization expressed concerns that political targeting of Indian groups risks feeding broader anti-Hindu bias in Canada.
“We are deeply concerned that this campaign contributes to a broader climate of Hinduphobia, in which Hindu organizations, Hindu leaders and Hindu Canadians can be portrayed through sweeping allegations and guilt by association ... The Hindu community should not be collectively stigmatized because of disagreement over an organization, an ideology or Indian politics,” it said.
Also Read: Why Mohan Bhagwat’s Message Belongs at the Universal Oneness Celebrations
The group urged Canadian lawmakers to avoid succumbing to external political or advocacy pressures.
“We call upon the Government of Canada, Members of Parliament and all relevant authorities to ensure that any decision regarding Bhagwat’s visit is based on Canadian law, credible evidence and due process, not political pressure, religious polarization or Hinduphobia,” it said.
It also called upon all organizations involved in the debate to provide evidence for their allegations and refrain from rhetoric that risks deepening division between Canada’s religious and cultural communities.
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