New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has voiced his opposition to a planned appearance by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden, while acknowledging that the city may not have the legal power to cancel a privately organised event.
Bhagwat is scheduled to address members of the Indian diaspora at the iconic New York venue on August 29 as part of the RSS’s international programmes marking its centenary year. Around 5,000 people are expected to attend.
Zohran Mamdani Says He Does Not Support Bhagwat Rally
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Mamdani was asked about Bhagwat’s planned appearance, the RSS and protests being organised against the event.
“I don’t support the rally,” Mamdani said, while adding that he was unsure whether the city had jurisdiction to intervene in a private gathering.
The mayor also explained that his views were influenced by his personal connection to India and his understanding of the country as a diverse and pluralistic society.
Mamdani Highlights India’s Pluralistic Identity
Mamdani pointed to his Indian-American background, noting that his mother’s family continues to live in India.
He said his understanding of India was shaped by the idea of a pluralistic and secular nation where people from different backgrounds have an equal place.
The mayor said he was therefore concerned by what he characterised as the growth of a political movement based on an exclusionary vision.
Mamdani stressed that his opposition was not simply based on his Indian heritage. He said it was also connected to his role as the mayor of New York, a city he described as committed to inclusion and diversity.
Bhagwat’s US Visit Coincides With RSS Centenary Outreach
The controversy comes as Bhagwat begins an international tour connected with the RSS’s 100th anniversary.
The RSS chief arrived in the United States on Tuesday and is expected to participate in several programmes during his visit to New York.
His Madison Square Garden appearance is being promoted as part of the organisation’s broader global outreach during its centenary year.
Civil Rights and Interfaith Groups Plan Protests
Bhagwat’s proposed appearance has already drawn criticism from several interfaith and civil rights organisations.
Groups including Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council and the Interfaith Centre of New York held a press conference outside New York City Hall and called for the event to be cancelled.
The groups have raised objections based on their political and ideological concerns about the RSS and its activities.
Their opposition is expected to add to the debate surrounding Bhagwat’s New York visit, even as organisers present the event as a programme promoting unity and harmony.
Event Organisers Promote Message of Global Unity
The Madison Square Garden programme is being organised by AHEAD Forum, which has announced Bhagwat’s participation in the Universal Oneness Celebration on August 29.
Organisers say the event is intended to promote the message that “the world is one family” and encourage people to focus on shared connections rather than differences.
Bhagwat’s supporters have described the gathering as part of the RSS’s centenary-year international outreach and an opportunity to engage with members of the Indian diaspora.
The event now finds itself at the centre of a growing political debate in New York, with Mamdani openly opposing it while acknowledging the legal limitations on the city’s ability to intervene in a private event.