Mamdani opposes NYC event with leader of India's Hindu nationalist group
Interfaith and civil-rights groups say the RSS chief’s appearance normalizes exclusionary politics as more than 5,000 people are expected at the event, organizers said.
- On Saturday, August 29, 2026, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will address over 5,000 people at Madison Square Garden in New York during his global outreach tour.
- Founded in 1925, the RSS serves as the ideological fountainhead of Hindutva and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party , with critics linking the organization to decades of violence against religious minorities.
- Activists gathered outside New York City Hall on Tuesday to denounce the visit, urging the venue to cancel the event and arguing New York should not provide a stage for religious nationalism.
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated Tuesday he opposes the rally, though he acknowledged the city lacks legal jurisdiction to cancel the private event scheduled for August 29.
- Scholars suggest the visit aims to bolster the RSS's legitimacy and influence, helping create content transmitted back to India as the organization cultivates support among the global Indian diaspora.
39 Articles
39 Articles
NYC: Mamdani opposes rally with Hindu nationalist leader
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani voiced opposition to an upcoming event featuring RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, calling the Hindu nationalist group's ideology "exclusionary" while acknowledging the city can't block a private event.
US Singer Millben Slams Zohran Mamdani For Opposing RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's Madison Square Event
US singer and actress Mary Millben has criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for opposing an upcoming event featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden (MSG). Millben's comments came after Mamdani said he did not
Mamdani opposes NYC event with leader of India's Hindu nationalist group
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Tuesday he did not support an upcoming event in his city featuring the leader of the Hindu nationalist group that is the ideological parent of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
