NYC Mayor Mamdani Opposes RSS Chief Bhagwat’s Madison Square Garden Event

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has voiced strong opposition to an upcoming event at Madison Square Garden where RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to address thousands of members of the Indian diaspora, even as he acknowledged that the city may not have the authority to stop the private gathering.

Bhagwat arrived in the United States on August 25 as part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s centenary-year global outreach programme. During his visit to New York, he is scheduled to participate in the Universal Oneness Celebration on August 29, with around 5,000 people expected to attend the event at the iconic venue.

Responding to questions about protests against the gathering, Mamdani said he did not support the event but was uncertain whether the city had any jurisdiction to cancel it.

The Indian-origin mayor, who described himself as the first Indian-American mayor in New York City’s history, said his understanding of India had been shaped by a vision of the country as a pluralistic society and a secular republic where every person belongs.

Mamdani said he was deeply opposed to what he described as an “exclusionary vision”, adding that his concerns were rooted not only in his identity as an Indian-American but also in his role as mayor of a city that values inclusion across communities, religions and backgrounds.

The planned appearance has also triggered protests from several interfaith and civil rights organisations, including Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council and the Interfaith Centre of New York. The groups held a press conference outside New York City Hall, urging Madison Square Garden to cancel the event.

Meanwhile, AHEAD Forum, which is hosting Bhagwat, has described the Universal Oneness Celebration as an event centred on the message that “the world is one family”, calling for people to move beyond divisions and embrace mutual respect, harmony and oneness.

Bhagwat’s wider tour will also take him to Canada and the United Kingdom, forming part of the RSS’s global outreach during its centenary year.