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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani opposes upcoming rally featuring Hindu nationalist leader

Mayor Mamdani criticized the ideology of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat while stating New York City likely lacks the authority to stop the private Madison Square Garden event.

Updated Aug 26, 2026 · 08:23 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani voiced opposition to a Saturday Madison Square Garden event featuring Mohan Bhagwat, head of the right-wing Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
  • Mamdani acknowledged that the city likely lacks the jurisdiction to cancel the private gathering, which is expected to draw approximately 5,000 attendees.
  • Civil rights and interfaith groups held a press conference outside City Hall urging the event's cancellation, pointing to the RSS's history of alleged extremism and targeting of religious minorities.

Key facts

  • Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the RSS, is scheduled to speak at the 'Universal Oneness Celebration' at Madison Square Garden as part of an international tour marking the group's centenary.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated he opposes the rally due to its alignment with an exclusionary vision, but noted the city likely cannot block a private event.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The gathering is organized by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, which claims support from more than 135 Hindu American groups.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Interfaith and advocacy groups, including Hindus for Human Rights and the Indian American Muslim Council, demonstrated outside NYC City Hall demanding the event be canceled.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The RSS serves as the ideological parent organization to India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recently recommended sanctions against the RSS, citing attacks on religious minorities by affiliated sub-groups.[Deutsche Welle]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether local authorities have any legal basis or jurisdiction to interfere with the private event planned at Madison Square Garden.[Deutsche Welle]

Sources