New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed opposition to an upcoming event featuring Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), stating that the group's ideology is "exclusionary." He acknowledged that the city likely does not have the authority to cancel a private event. Bhagwat is scheduled to speak on Saturday at Madison Square Garden during the "Universal Oneness Celebration," which is expected to attract around 5,000 attendees. This event is part of a global outreach tour commemorating the RSS's centenary year, with Bhagwat visiting the United States, Canada, and the UK.
At a press conference, Mamdani stated, "I don't support the rally, but I don't know if the city has any jurisdiction on canceling a private event." Mamdani, who is the first Muslim and Indian American mayor in New York City's history, noted that his opposition reflects his commitment to a city that values belonging for all individuals, regardless of their background.
Mamdani, whose mother is filmmaker Mira Nair, emphasized his understanding of India as a pluralistic society. He expressed concern about the rise of movements that promote exclusionary views.
The event is organized by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, which claims support from over 135 Hindu American organizations and aims to promote shared heritage and interfaith unity. However, several interfaith and civil rights groups, including Hindus for Human Rights and the Indian American Muslim Council, have criticized Bhagwat's involvement and the RSS's history. They held a news conference outside New York City Hall, calling for the event's cancellation.
Sravya Tadepalli, Deputy Executive Director of Hindus for Human Rights, stated, "Mohan Bhagwat does not represent Hindus. He leads an extremist Hindu nationalist movement that has fueled violence, exclusion and fear for minority communities. New York should not provide the RSS with a stage on which religious nationalism can be repackaged as unity."
The RSS, founded in 1925, describes itself as a "Hindu centric civilizational, cultural movement" focused on uniting Hindus, while disputing claims of promoting intolerance. It is the ideological parent of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has a longstanding association with the organization.
In recent years, the RSS has initiated a global campaign to counter perceptions of being a paramilitary group involved in violence against minorities. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recently urged sanctions against the RSS, advising the American government not to extend diplomatic courtesies to its members, labeling it an "umbrella organization" responsible for attacks on religious minorities, including Christians and Muslims.
United Nations bodies and human rights organizations have reported a rise in abuses against religious minorities in India, citing issues such as hate speech and discriminatory laws. The BJP-led government in India denies any intent to discriminate, highlighting programs that it claims benefit all communities. The RSS has faced bans in India on multiple occasions, including in 1948 after a member assassinated Mahatma Gandhi.