Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived in New York as he began a three-nation global outreach tour covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom during the organisation’s centenary year.
Bhagwat received a warm welcome upon his arrival and is expected to interact with members of the Indian diaspora and representatives of overseas organisations during his visit.
A key event of his New York tour will be the ‘Universal Oneness Celebrations’ at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) forum, the gathering is expected to bring together members of the Indian-American community and other participants around themes of unity, civic responsibility and global harmony.
The event is also expected to feature cultural performances and speakers from different faith communities. Organisers have linked the programme to the traditional observance of Raksha Bandhan while presenting it as a broader message of social unity and harmony.
Bhagwat’s scheduled appearance has, however, triggered political debate in New York. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he does not support the RSS event, while acknowledging that the city may not have jurisdiction to cancel a privately organised gathering.
Mamdani said his understanding of India was shaped by a vision of the country as a pluralistic and secular republic. He expressed opposition to what he described as an exclusionary political movement and said his position reflected both his views as an Indian American and his responsibilities as mayor of a diverse city.
The planned event has also received support from American singer Mary Millben, who criticised opponents of Bhagwat’s appearance while highlighting the event’s theme of oneness. She also called for meaningful dialogue on religious freedom in India.
The controversy comes amid renewed criticism of the RSS from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The commission has called for sanctions against the organisation and urged the US government to reconsider high-level engagement with its leaders.
India has rejected USCIRF’s criticism, with Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal describing the commission as biased and lacking credibility. India has previously dismissed USCIRF reports on religious freedom as selective and based on what it called questionable sources and ideological narratives.
Bhagwat’s visit is taking place as the RSS marks 100 years since its founding. His overseas engagements are expected to focus on interaction with the Indian diaspora, community organisations and supporters while showcasing the organisation’s message of social unity and global engagement.
