Now Reading: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s US visit sparks protests
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RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s US visit sparks protests
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is set to appear at Madison Square Garden on August 29, triggering growing opposition in the US with protests, social media campaigns, and calls for Washington to deny…
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is set to appear at Madison Square Garden on August 29, triggering growing opposition in the US with protests, social media campaigns, and calls for Washington to deny diplomatic courtesies to RSS leaders. The controversy has raised questions about the political purpose of Bhagwat's three-country tour, which also includes Canada and the UK, and its implications for India-US relations.
Sanjay Kapoor, senior journalist, said the US is in political churn with midterm elections approaching, and Bhagwat remains a controversial figure. Kapoor argued that the Indian government's backing makes major action against the RSS chief unlikely. Pushparaj Deshpande, author and policy expert, said the backlash reflects deeper unease over ideological cooperation between the BJP, RSS, and far-right political forces abroad, including the MAGA faction in the US.
Deshpande argued that Bhagwat's tour may be an attempt to distinguish the RSS from the Modi government, citing recent criticism of PM Modi from figures like Donald Trump. Kapoor rejected the idea that the distinction between RSS and BJP could be easily established, noting the RSS remains a major ideological force.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The RSS chief's foreign tour is rare: Mohan Bhagwat has not addressed a major overseas public event in years, making the Madison Square Garden appearance symbolically significant. The US State Department does not formally recognise the RSS as a religious or cultural organisation, and visa policies for its leaders have been scrutinised before. The protests tap into long-standing diaspora debates about the Sangh's ideology, but any diplomatic fallout will depend on whether the Biden administration views the visit as official or private. The next signal to watch is whether any US lawmakers introduce resolutions condemning the RSS ahead of the August event.
Under the US Constitution, foreign nationals cannot be denied entry based solely on ideology unless they meet specific inadmissibility grounds. The State Department has not commented on Bhagwat's visa status.
Source: thefederal.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
