NYC Mayor Opposes RSS Rally at Madison Square Garden
Mayor Zohran Mamdani opposed a rally by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat but stated the city likely lacks jurisdiction to cancel the private event.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his opposition to an upcoming event featuring Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), scheduled for August 29 at Madison Square Garden. Mamdani described the RSS as a movement predicated on an "exclusionary vision" and contrasted it with his belief in a pluralistic, secular society. However, he stated he was uncertain if the city has the legal jurisdiction to cancel a privately organized gathering.
The event, titled "Universal Oneness Celebrations" and organized by the AHEAD forum, coincides with the RSS centenary and Raksha Bandhan. It is part of a broader multi-day visit by Bhagwat to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Mamdani's stance drew criticism from progressive activists and former Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant, who accused the mayor of failing to stand with oppressed communities by not using his position to cancel the event.
The controversy occurs amid diplomatic tension. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged the U.S. government to avoid high-level engagement with RSS leadership and consider sanctions. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has rejected these recommendations, calling the commission "biased."
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