A major RSS outreach event is being planned in New York, with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat scheduled to address the “Universal Oneness Celebration” at Madison Square Garden on August 29.The event is being organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue and is expected to bring together Hindu-American organisations and members of the Indian diaspora around the themes of shared heritage, interfaith dialogue and unity.The programme, however, has triggered a political controversy even before it takes place, with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly opposing Bhagwat’s appearance.Mamdani, New York’s first Muslim and Indian-American mayor, said he did not support the planned rally, describing the RSS’s vision as exclusionary and contrasting it with his own understanding of India as a pluralistic country. At the same time, he acknowledged that the event is privately organised and said he was unsure whether the city had the legal authority to cancel it.The controversy is particularly significant because of Mamdani’s own Indian heritage and his position as mayor of one of the world’s most diverse cities. His criticism has also drawn support from groups opposed to the RSS, while critics of the mayor have questioned whether his position amounts to singling out a Hindu organisation.The RSS, meanwhile, has pushed back strongly against the criticism.
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Interfaith forum
RSS communications chief Sunil Ambekar said the New York gathering represents an interfaith forum where Bhagwat will engage with a “diverse, multicultural, and multi-faith audience”.He said the event reflects what the RSS describes as the inclusive and welcoming nature of the Bharatiya ethos, and invited anyone interested in understanding the organisation’s philosophy to participate in open dialogue.The timing of Bhagwat’s visit is also important. The RSS is marking its centenary in 2025-26, and the New York programme forms part of a broader international outreach by Bhagwat covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The stated objective is to engage Indian-origin communities abroad and present the RSS’s views on India, Hindu society and its own philosophy.
