Key facts
- Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Hindu nationalist group RSS, is scheduled to speak at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
- The RSS is considered the ideological parent of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
- Critics accuse the RSS of promoting Hindutva ideology, intolerance, and human rights violations in India.
- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom called for sanctions against RSS members and visa revocation for Bhagwat.
- New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly opposed the event, labeling RSS ideology as exclusionary.
An event in New York City featuring Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is facing significant opposition. Bhagwat is scheduled to address approximately 5,000 members of Indian American groups at Madison Square Garden.
The RSS is widely considered the ideological parent of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Critics accuse the RSS and its associated parties of promoting the political ideology of Hindutva, which they claim seeks to define Indian identity through Hindu values, and of fostering intolerance and committing human rights violations in India, including mob lynchings and targeting minority places of worship.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly denounced the event, stating that RSS ideology is exclusionary and contrary to the city's pluralistic views. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged the U.S. government to consider sanctions against RSS members and revoke Bhagwat's visa due to alleged religious freedom violations in India. India's Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed these remarks as biased.
Several interfaith and civil rights groups, including Hindus for Human Rights and the Indian American Muslim Council, have protested the event, with organizers stating that the RSS and Hindutva ideology do not represent them. The Hindu American Foundation, however, has urged attendees to maintain civility and called on Mayor Mamdani to protect all New Yorkers regardless of their beliefs.
Some observers, like Bill Drexel of the Hudson Institute, suggest Bhagwat's visit may be part of an effort to improve the RSS's international image, noting a recent toning down of some of his comments. RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar stated Bhagwat would engage with a diverse, multicultural, and multifaith audience.