New York | 29 Aug 2026
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said in New York on Saturday that Hindu identity cannot be based on excluding Muslims and argued that India’s defining civilisational principle is “unity in diversity”. His remarks came during engagements with faith leaders and later at the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden, against the backdrop of protests and debate over the RSS and its ideology.
Mohan Bhagwat New York Speech Stresses Unity in Diversity
Addressing the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden, Bhagwat contrasted the American idea of pluralism with what he described as Bharat’s tradition of unity in diversity. He said diversity did not weaken an underlying sense of oneness and should instead be celebrated and respected.
“Diversity has to be celebrated, has to be respected, has to be accepted.”
— Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief
Bhagwat said every nation had a purpose and argued that Bharat’s role was to understand this underlying unity and periodically remind the world that differences could coexist with a shared human bond. He also urged members of the Indian diaspora to remain loyal and responsible citizens of the United States, which he described as their “karma bhumi”, while retaining a connection with their “janmabhumi”.
The gathering was organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, or AHEAD Forum. The organiser said more than 5,000 people were expected and that over 250 partner organisations were supporting the event, which was held around the theme of universal oneness and the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — the world is one family.
Bhagwat Says Hindu Identity Cannot Be Based on Excluding Muslims
In a separate faith leaders’ conference in New York ahead of the Madison Square Garden programme, Bhagwat addressed questions surrounding Hindu Rashtra and the place of Muslims in India. Recalling a discussion from his 2018 lecture series, he said removing Muslims from the country was not consistent with his understanding of Hindutva.
“If any Hindu thinks there should be no Muslims in India, he will not remain Hindu.”
— Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief
He said a person calling themselves Hindu must recognise the dignity of every human being and accept that different spiritual paths can lead towards the same ultimate goal. Bhagwat also said diversity must be protected alongside one’s own identity, describing diversity as a feature of nature and unity as the underlying truth.
Bhagwat Calls for Dialogue and Society-Led Change
Bhagwat argued that lasting social change should begin within society rather than through political institutions. He said politics had become a “game of self-interest” and maintained that dialogue and service were necessary to build trust between communities.
He referred to discussions initiated with Muslim and Christian representatives after his earlier public lectures and said such engagement needed to continue even when immediate results were not visible. Bhagwat argued that public opinion ultimately influences politics in a democracy and that stronger social understanding could therefore shape policy over time.
Bhagwat’s visit drew opposition from a coalition of interfaith, civil-rights and secular organisations in the United States. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also criticised the RSS, describing its ideology as exclusionary, while saying he was unsure whether the city had authority to cancel a privately organised event.
The RSS rejected that characterisation of the gathering. Senior RSS functionary Sunil Ambekar described the Universal Oneness Celebration as an interfaith event intended for dialogue with a diverse, multicultural and multi-faith audience. AHEAD Forum similarly presented the programme as an initiative centred on unity, mutual respect and civic responsibility.
The Madison Square Garden programme went ahead as scheduled on August 29. Bhagwat’s United States visit forms part of a wider overseas outreach during the RSS centenary period, with engagements also planned in Canada and the United Kingdom.
