RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Promotes Unity at New York Event

The chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mohan Bhagwat, addressed approximately 5,000 people at the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York on August 29. The event, organized by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, coincided with the Raksha Bandhan festival and the RSS centenary year. Bhagwat emphasized the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, asserting that unity in diversity is embedded in the DNA of Bharat and that all religious paths lead to the same destination.

During his speech, Bhagwat stated that any Hindu who believes Muslims should not exist in India is not a true Hindu. He described the RSS as an organization dedicated to the manufacturing of volunteers to execute community work and urged the Indian diaspora to fulfill their duties to both their ancestral and current homelands. His visit included stops at the Bhakti Centre and ISKCON temple, with further tour dates scheduled for Canada and the United Kingdom.

The visit sparked significant controversy. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the RSS as a movement predicated on an exclusionary vision, though he noted the city lacked the legal authority to stop a private gathering. The Indian American Muslim Council and 61 other organizations protested the event, arguing that the RSS promotes Hindu nationalism and hate. Additionally, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom previously suggested revoking Bhagwat's visa, a proposal the Indian Ministry of External Affairs dismissed as biased.