NYC mayor opposes RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Madison Square event

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Tuesday he does not support the August 29 event at Madison Square Garden where RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will address about 5,000 people, but added the city may not have jurisdiction to cancel the private event. Several interfaith and civil rights organisations, including Hindus for Human Rights and the Indian American Muslim Council, held a press conference opposing the event under the banner 'No Platform for Hate'.

The Federal reports analysts disagree on the visit's purpose. Journalist Sanjay Kapoor said Bhagwat is a controversial figure and the US political environment may influence the response, but the Indian government's backing makes major action unlikely. Policy expert Pushparaj Deshpande argued the backlash reflects unease over ideological cooperation between the BJP-RSS and far-right groups abroad, and suggested Bhagwat may seek to project the RSS as separate from the Modi government. The Hindu notes the RSS says the visit is part of its centenary-year global outreach focusing on India's cultural traditions and the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.