Mohan Bhagwat addresses New York RSS event amid protests, visa concerns, and political pushback

New York: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, addressing a large gathering in New York, said that any Hindu who believes there should be no Muslims in Bharat would cease to be a Hindu, stressing that diversity and unity are central to the country’s identity.Bhagwat made the remarks on August 29 at the ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’ held at Madison Square Garden and organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) Forum. The event brought together thousands of Indian-Americans and representatives from different faith and community organisations.Bhagwat Says Humanity Is One Despite DifferencesSpeaking about the idea of unity in diversity, Bhagwat said different paths may exist, but they ultimately lead towards the same goal. He emphasised that differences between people should not undermine the underlying unity of humanity.#WATCH | New York, US: At the "One World One Humanity" event, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat says, "If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu. If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths are leading to the same goal… pic.twitter.com/e5UYZPppU8— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2026 Bhagwat also said that diversity is a natural principle and should be respected and protected rather than treated as a source of division.According to India Today, Bhagwat told a faith leaders’ gathering in New York that excluding Muslims from Bharat was incompatible with Hindu identity. He also highlighted Bharat’s tradition of providing shelter to people belonging to different faiths and communities.‘Unity In Diversity Is Bharat’s DNA’At the Universal Oneness Celebration, Bhagwat described unity in diversity as being embedded in Bharat’s DNA and called for diversity to be “celebrated, respected and accepted.”According to India Today, he also urged members of the Indian diaspora to remain committed to their responsibilities towards both their adopted country and Bharat, while contributing positively to their communities and the wider world.The event was centred on the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or “the world is one family”. Organisers said the gathering sought to promote shared heritage, unity, civic responsibility and global harmony. More than 250 Hindu-American organisations were involved in the event, according to the organisers.RSS Centenary Outreach In USBhagwat’s New York address came as part of the RSS’s centenary-year outreach among the Indian diaspora in the United States.The event was presented as a platform for cultural exchange and interfaith dialogue, with the organisers describing it as an effort to bring people together despite differences. The official event website said more than 5,000 people were expected to attend, while its later fact sheet put expected attendance at around 6,000.The RSS chief’s US visit has also included engagements outside the main event, including a visit to an ISKCON temple in New York and participation in community service activities.HSS USA’s Role In Hindu-American CommunityThe RSS does not operate as a formally registered organisation in the US. One of the prominent Hindu volunteer organisations operating there is the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS USA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on social, educational and cultural activities.RSS In US: How HSS USA Became Sangh’s Key Cultural Network Ahead of Mohan Bhagwat’s New York Event According to its official website, HSS USA operates across 33 states and 186 cities, with 267 centres or shakhas and 85 Hindu Yuva university chapters. It conducts values-based educational programmes, community outreach and service activities.HSS USA describes its mission as organising a diverse Hindu-American society that can address community challenges and contribute to the welfare of the wider world. It lists its vision as “World Peace Through Dharma.”Bhagwat’s latest remarks therefore placed themes of religious coexistence, cultural diversity and shared humanity at the centre of the RSS’s centenary outreach in the US.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) does not operate as a formally registered organisation in the United States. Its principal US-based counterpart is the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS USA), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that describes itself as a voluntary, social, educational and cultural organisation.HSS says its mission is to organise a vibrant Hindu American community, preserve Hindu traditions and values, and encourage civic responsibility and selfless service. The organisation says it is independently operated, while acknowledging inspiration from Hindu Dharma and the broader Hindu organisational tradition associated with the RSS.HSS Network Spans Dozens Of US StatesAccording to HSS USA's website, the organisation has a presence across 33 states and 186 cities, with 267 centres or shakhas and 85 Hindu Yuva university chapters. Its activities include weekly shakhas, youth programmes, cultural events, educational initiatives and community service.If You’re Not in New York… Bring New York Home!Be part of the Universal Oneness Celebration — LIVE from New York City!Saturday, August 29, 20262:00 PM ETJoin us and celebrate the timeless message:“The World Is One Family.” - Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam— AHEAD Forum (@Aheadforum1) August 29, 2026 The organisation says its programmes focus on discipline, teamwork, physical fitness, yoga, cultural education and seva, or selfless service. Its outreach has also included food drives, disaster relief, health initiatives, teacher appreciation programmes and interfaith engagement.How The US Sangh Network FunctionsHSS is part of a wider ecosystem of organisations that analysts and researchers often describe as being connected to the Sangh Parivar, the broader family of organisations associated with the RSS.Among the groups active in the US are the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Sewa International, Overseas Friends of BJP, Hindu Students Council and Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation. The nature and extent of links between these organisations vary, with some maintaining their own legal structures and organisational identities.HSS itself stresses its independence as a US-based organisation rather than describing itself as an American branch of the RSS.Bhagwat's US Visit Puts Network In SpotlightThe role and reach of this wider network have come into sharper focus with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's ongoing visit to the United States.Bhagwat is in the US as part of a centenary-year international outreach tour that also includes Canada and the UK. His visit is aimed at engaging Hindu and Indian-origin communities and presenting the RSS's perspective on Hindu society, India and its cultural outlook.His US trip comes during the RSS's centenary year, adding significance to the organisation's international outreach.What Is The Universal Oneness Celebration?The centrepiece of Bhagwat's US visit is the Universal Oneness Celebration in New York on August 29. The event is being organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) Forum, with more than 200 Hindu American organisations listed as participating partners.The gathering at Madison Square Garden is built around the Sanskrit principle “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, meaning “The World Is One Family”. Organisers say the programme will feature cultural performances, interfaith participation, collective prayers and a Raksha Bandhan ceremony, with Bhagwat delivering the keynote address.The organisers have described the event as a platform for dialogue, unity, civic responsibility and engagement across communities. The event is expected to attract more than 5,000 people, according to recent reports.Event Draws Support And OppositionThe event has also generated controversy in New York. Supporters describe it as an opportunity to showcase Hindu culture, community service and interfaith engagement, while critics have raised concerns over the RSS's ideology and its record on religious minorities in India.Reuters reported that New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has opposed the event, describing the RSS's ideology as exclusionary. Other civil rights, interfaith and diaspora groups have also criticised Bhagwat's appearance.The Associated Press reported that the event has prompted protests and calls for sanctions against RSS members from some US groups, while organisers and supporters have defended the gathering as an inclusive platform for dialogue.Differing Views On RSS And HSSThe debate over the RSS's presence in the US reflects sharply different interpretations of its activities.HSS and organisations aligned with its worldview emphasise cultural preservation, community service, character building, Hindu heritage and interfaith engagement. Critics, however, argue that HSS functions as part of a broader RSS-linked ideological network and raises questions about the international spread of Hindutva politics.USCIRF Seeks Revocation Of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Visa As Protests Loom Over New York Event The RSS and its supporters reject characterisations that portray the organisation as promoting discrimination, maintaining that its work centres on Hindu cultural identity, social service and national and civilisational unity.Why Bhagwat's Visit MattersWhile HSS USA operates as a separate US nonprofit with its own legal structure, its stated cultural and ideological connections to the broader Hindu organisational movement have made it an important part of discussions about the RSS's presence overseas.The Universal Oneness Celebration is therefore being watched not only as a major Hindu American gathering, but also as an important moment in the RSS's centenary-year effort to engage communities beyond India.

A US Congress-constituted advisory body on religious freedom has urged the Trump administration to revoke the visa issued to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, who is in New York as part of a three-nation trip.Bhagwat is scheduled to address the Universal Oneness Celebrations at the Infosys Theatre at Madison Square Garden on August 29. The programme has been billed as an inter-faith gathering where he will interact with a diverse, multicultural and multi-faith audience. The visit has, however, drawn opposition from some groups and prompted a Hindu-American advocacy organisation to issue a safety advisory for those attending the event.USCIRF raises concerns over Bhagwat visitThe United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said it was "deeply concerned" about Bhagwat's visit to the US. The commission alleged that members of RSS subgroups have "perpetrated violent attacks against religious minorities".USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood said the organisation had urged the US government to consider "targeted sanctions" against those it considers complicit in religious freedom violations, including revoking Bhagwat's visa.The commission also accused the Indian government of engaging in acts of transnational repression to "target religious minorities beyond its borders".The controversy highlights the sharply different views surrounding Bhagwat's visit, with USCIRF raising questions over religious freedom even as India has strongly rejected the commission's claims and questioned its credibility.India rejects USCIRF claimsIndia has dismissed USCIRF's claims, describing it as a biased organisation that lacks credibility."It is a biased organisation. I would say that we should keep away from such organisations as they have their own agenda and lack any credibility... We do not expect that the USCIRF will engage with the reality of India's pluralistic framework or acknowledge the harmonious coexistence of its diverse communities," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said recently.Meanwhile, the X account of the organisation hosting Bhagwat's New York event became "unavailable" to users on Wednesday. The American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) Forum, which operates the handle @AheadForum1, subsequently issued a statement saying it believed the suspension "may have occurred in error"."We remain confident that our communications have consistently promoted universal peace, oneness, harmony, and constructive interfaith and intercultural dialogue in accordance with X's policies," the organisation said.Protests planned outside venueThe Hindu American Foundation (HAF), a US-based non-profit advocacy group, has issued a community alert for people attending the August 29 event, warning of attempts to disrupt or cancel the programme.Hindus for Human Rights and other like-minded organisations have planned protests outside Madison Square Garden on Saturday to coincide with the event."Mohan Bhagwat does not represent Hindus. He leads an extremist Hindu nationalist movement that has fuelled violence, exclusion and fear for minority communities," Hindus for Human Rights Deputy Executive Director Sravya Tadepalli said.With protests planned outside the venue and Bhagwat's supporters expected to attend the programme, the competing positions have placed the focus on ensuring that political disagreement does not turn into confrontation.HAF asks attendees to avoid confrontationHAF has urged New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to uphold his sworn duty to protect all New Yorkers, including those attending the Madison Square Garden event, and guarantee their safety and civil rights.'Nothing Is Left': Eyewitnesses Recall Horror Of Nepal Flash Floods That Killed 270"If you're attending: Be civil, respect everyone's right to assemble, protest, and express their views," HAF said.The organisation asked attendees to remain vigilant, report anything suspicious to law enforcement authorities and avoid confrontations with protesters."If you feel threatened, leave the area and contact event security or law enforcement. Call 911 in an emergency. Avoid confrontations or altercations with anyone making provocative or threatening statements," HAF said.It also urged attendees to report hate incidents, threats, vandalism, suspicious activity or other crimes to security personnel or law enforcement authorities.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has opposed a planned event at Madison Square Garden featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, who is scheduled to address the Indian diaspora later this week. He, however, said the city may not have the jurisdiction to cancel the “private” event.Bhagwat arrived in the US on Tuesday as part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach programme, which also includes visits to Canada and the UK. He is scheduled to address around 5,000 people at Madison Square Garden (MSG) on Aug 29.The event has drawn opposition from several interfaith and civil rights organisations.VIDEO | On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's event at Madison Square Garden, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says, "... I also stand here as the first Indian American mayor in our city's history. My mother's family is all still in India. The vision of India that I was taught by my… pic.twitter.com/2UbDYj7WHu— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 25, 2026 Mamdani Says He Does Not Support Event"I don't support the rally, but I don't know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event,” Mamdani said at a press conference on Tuesday when asked about the planned event and protests against it.Asked whether the MSG event should be cancelled, Mamdani spoke about his connection with India, saying his mother's family continues to live there.The Indian-origin mayor, who described himself as the first Indian-American mayor in New York City's history, said the vision of India he learnt from his family and grew up with was that of “a pluralistic society” and “a secular republic” that believed in the belonging of every person from India.The 34-year-old mayor said it had been “incredibly troubling” to witness the rise of a movement based on an “exclusionary vision”, without specifically elaborating on the context of his remarks.Mamdani said he was in “deep opposition” to it both as an Indian-American and as mayor of a city that strongly believes in the belonging of every person, irrespective of colour, creed, religion, faith or place of origin.Mamdani, the son of Indian-origin filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani, took charge as New York City mayor in January.Also Watch:Civil Rights Groups Call For CancellationSeveral interfaith and civil rights organisations, including Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council and the Interfaith Centre of New York, have opposed Bhagwat's planned appearance and urged Madison Square Garden to cancel the event.AHEAD Forum, a public policy and research trust, is hosting Bhagwat in the US, with programmes planned under the banner of Universal Oneness Celebration.In a social media post, the forum said Bhagwat's visit “carries a timeless and universal message: The world is one family” and called on people to look beyond “artificial divisions and differences”.Karnataka Voter Roll Row: CM D K Shivakumar Seeks Election Commission Extension After 1.08 Crore Electors Flagged, 43 Lakh Face NoticesBhagwat's Tour Part Of RSS Global OutreachBhagwat's foreign visit is aimed at presenting a “factual and positive perspective on India, Hindu society and the RSS”, the organisation's joint general secretary CR Mukunda said at a press conference in Visakhapatnam last week.The visit forms part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach and includes the US, Canada and the UK.

Mumbai: BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam hit back at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after the latter said he did not support a planned event featuring RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden, accusing the mayor of having a 'distorted' understanding of pluralism.Responding to Mamdani's remarks, Satam said India did not need lessons on an 'exclusionary vision' from someone he described as 'extreme left, radical, separatist' and alleged had sympathy for Umar Khalid. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ameet Satam (@ameet.satam) Satam Schools NYC Mayor On Nation-Building, Human ServiceSatam said institutions such as the RSS were engaged in man-making, nation-building and human service, particularly during crises and disasters, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or gender. He further accused Mamdani of having a biased understanding of pluralism, claiming that the mayor's approach was tilted towards one line of thinking and group.The remarks came after Mamdani said on Tuesday that he opposed the planned RSS event at Madison Square Garden but was unsure whether New York City had the jurisdiction to cancel what he described as a private event.VIDEO | On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's event at Madison Square Garden, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says, "... I also stand here as the first Indian American mayor in our city's history. My mother's family is all still in India. The vision of India that I was taught by my… pic.twitter.com/2UbDYj7WHu— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 25, 2026 Bhagwat is scheduled to address a gathering of around 5,000 members of the Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden on August 29 as part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach programme. "I don't support the rally, but I don't know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event," Mamdani said at a news conference.The New York mayor also criticised what he described as the rise of a movement based on an 'exclusionary vision' and said he opposed such an approach as both an Indian-American and the mayor of a city that believes in the belonging of people regardless of their colour, creed, religion, faith or place of origin. Groups Protest Against Bhagwat EventMamdani's comments came as several interfaith and civil rights organisations held a press conference outside New York City Hall opposing Bhagwat's appearance at Madison Square Garden. The groups included Hindus for Human Rights, Indian American Muslim Council and the Interfaith Centre of New York, among others. They urged the venue to cancel the planned event. Bhagwat arrived in the United States earlier on Tuesday as part of the RSS's centenary-year international outreach. During his visit to New York, he is scheduled to participate in the Universal Oneness Celebration and address the gathering at Madison Square Garden.The event is being organised by AHEAD Forum, which said the programme would carry the message that 'the world is one family' and promote mutual respect, harmony and oneness. Bhagwat's overseas tour includes the US, Canada and the UK as part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach programme. To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Tuesday he did not support an upcoming event in his city featuring the leader of the Hindu nationalist group that is the ideological parent of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is scheduled to speak at a Manhattan event on Saturday, according to the event’s website. “I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event,” Mamdani, who is the first Muslim and Indian American mayor of New York City, said when asked if the event should be cancelled. “The vision of India that I was taught by my family and one that I grew up being very familiar with was of a pluralistic society of a secular Republic that believed in the belonging of each and every person who was from India. And it has been incredibly troubling to see the rise of a movement that is predicated on an exclusionary vision.” The event’s website casts the August 29 gathering as the “Universal Oneness Celebration” bringing together the Hindu American community. The organisers, American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, say the event is backed by several Hindu American groups and promotes shared heritage and interfaith unity. Many local organisations have criticised it over Bhagwat’s attendance and the RSS’ history. The RSS, a powerful Hindu group from which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP emerged, said in May it had organised foreign visits, including to the US, to counter perceptions it is a paramilitary outfit involved in attacks on minority communities. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom says the RSS “has been involved in acts of extreme violence and intolerance against members of minority groups for decades”. The RSS disputes intolerance accusations and says it is a “Hindu-centric civilisational, cultural movement” whose goal is to “carry the nation to the pinnacle of glory”, including by uniting Hindus. United Nations and human rights groups say abuse of Indian minorities has risen in recent years, pointing to rising hate speeches, a religion-based citizenship law, the demolition of Muslim-owned properties, the removal of occupied Kashmir’s autonomy and an anti-conversion legislation that challenges freedom of belief. The BJP-led Indian government denies being discriminatory and says its policies, including food subsidy programmes and electrification drives, benefit all communities.