Mohan Bhagwat New York event
New York, August 26, 2026: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has expressed opposition to an upcoming event featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden, triggering a political debate in India and the United States.
Bhagwat is scheduled to address an event in New York on August 29, organised under the banner of the Universal Oneness Celebration. The programme is expected to draw members of the Indian-American community and has attracted both support and opposition.
Mamdani says he does not support the event
Speaking to reporters, Mamdani said he did not support the planned gathering. At the same time, he acknowledged that the New York City administration might not have the legal authority to cancel a private event.
“I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event.”
Mamdani also referred to his Indian-American background while explaining his position. He said the India he learned about through his family was a pluralistic and secular society in which people of different backgrounds could belong equally.
The mayor said he was strongly opposed to what he described as an exclusionary political vision and connected his concerns to New York City’s diversity.
Civil rights groups oppose Bhagwat event
The controversy has also involved several civil rights, interfaith and community organisations.
Groups including Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council and other advocacy organisations have raised objections to Bhagwat’s appearance and called for the Madison Square Garden programme to be cancelled.
Critics have focused on the RSS’s political and ideological history and its relationship with debates surrounding religious identity and minority rights in India. The RSS, however, rejects allegations that it promotes intolerance and describes itself as a cultural organisation representing Hindu society.
BJP leaders criticise Mamdani
Mamdani’s comments quickly drew criticism from BJP leaders and other Indian political figures.
BJP leaders argued that Mamdani’s opposition was inconsistent with his stated support for pluralism and questioned whether he had any authority over a privately organised programme.
BJP leader Nalin Kohli said that if Mamdani supported pluralism, he should not object to Bhagwat holding an event in New York.
Other BJP leaders defended the RSS and argued that Bhagwat should be allowed to present his views to members of the Indian diaspora before people reach conclusions about the organisation.
The political responses have widened the controversy beyond the event itself, turning it into a debate over free expression, political ideology and the role of city authorities in privately organised gatherings.
Mary Millben also attacks Mamdani
American singer Mary Millben also criticised Mamdani’s position. She accused the mayor and other critics of opposing the event because of their political disagreement with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
Millben argued that Madison Square Garden is a privately operated venue and suggested that political opposition would not necessarily prevent the programme from taking place.
The immediate question is whether the August 29 Mohan Bhagwat event at Madison Square Garden will proceed as planned.
Mamdani has made clear that he personally does not support the gathering, but his comments also indicate that the city may not have the authority to cancel a private event.
The controversy has therefore moved into a wider political and public debate involving the RSS, the Indian-American community, freedom of expression, religious pluralism and New York City’s role in regulating privately organised events.
Bhagwat’s visit is part of the RSS’s centenary-year international outreach, with programmes planned in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The August 29 event is expected to remain under close political and media attention as supporters and critics continue to debate its significance.
