Mamdani Opposes Bhagwat's NYC Event but Lacks Authority to Cancel It
· World · India Today, Al Jazeera, The Independent
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he does not support the planned Madison Square Garden event where Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to speak on August 29, 2026. Mamdani, the first Indian-American mayor of New York, cited an inclusive vision of India rooted in secularism and pluralism that conflicts with what he described as an exclusionary movement. He stated the city may not have jurisdiction to cancel the event because it is organised as a private gathering. Bhagwat is in New York as part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach programme, which includes participation in the Universal Oneness celebration. The event is expected to draw around 5,000 people from the Indian diaspora.
Why it matters
Mamdani's opposition reflects growing scrutiny of the RSS's overseas activities amid concerns in the Indian-American community about the organisation's ideology, potentially heightening debate around diaspora politics in the United States. The event proceeds as planned, with no clear legal avenue for cancellation despite the mayor's stance.
Read the original report — India Today
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