New York | 26 Aug 2026
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has opposed an August 29 event featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden, triggering divided reactions from Indian political leaders and civil rights organisations.
Mamdani opposes Mohan Bhagwat’s New York event
Mamdani said he did not support the private gathering but acknowledged that the New York City administration might not have the authority to prevent it from taking place.
“I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event.”
— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City
Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim and Indian-American mayor, said his family had taught him to view India as a pluralistic and secular republic in which every citizen belonged equally. He described movements based on what he called an exclusionary vision as troubling and said they conflicted with New York’s commitment to diversity.
His comments did not amount to an order cancelling the programme, and no cancellation had been announced as of August 26.
Universal Oneness Celebration scheduled for August 29
Bhagwat is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Universal Oneness Celebration on August 29. The programme is being organised by the AHEAD Forum, formally known as American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue.
Organisers describe the gathering as an initiative promoting shared heritage, interfaith harmony and the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning “the world is one family”. The AHEAD Forum said more than 200 Hindu American organisations were supporting the programme.
The event coincides with Raksha Bandhan and is part of the RSS’s centenary-year international outreach. Bhagwat’s overseas itinerary also includes visits to Canada and the United Kingdom.
Indian political leaders divided over Mamdani’s position
Mamdani’s opposition prompted contrasting responses from Indian political parties. BJP leaders Syed Zafar Islam and Bhola Singh criticised his position and defended the RSS as an organisation involved in social service and nation-building.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC accused Mamdani of appeasement politics and questioned what she described as double standards towards the RSS and organisations associated with its community work.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey also called the opposition unwarranted. Although acknowledging his party’s political differences with the RSS, Dubey argued that those disagreements should not result in opposition to an Indian leader visiting another country.
Congress MP Imran Masood questioned the purpose of the programme and the message its organisers intended to convey internationally. Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, meanwhile, said opposition to the event was understandable in a religiously diverse city such as New York.
Interfaith and civil rights groups seek cancellation
Several interfaith, civil rights and community organisations have urged Madison Square Garden to cancel Bhagwat’s appearance. Groups involved in the opposition include Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council and the Interfaith Center of New York.
The organisations have raised objections to the RSS’s ideology and record. The RSS rejects allegations of intolerance and describes itself as a Hindu-centred cultural and civilisational movement focused on social organisation and national development.
The AHEAD Forum has maintained that the programme is intended to promote mutual respect, unity and dialogue across communities. With Mamdani questioning the city’s jurisdiction over a privately organised indoor event, any decision affecting the booking would rest with the venue or organisers unless a valid legal or public-safety ground emerged.
