26 Aug 2026 (Navroze Bureau) : New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he does not support an upcoming event featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, while acknowledging that the city may not have the legal authority to cancel a privately organised gathering.
Bhagwat is scheduled to address the Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden on August 29 as part of the RSS’s centenary-year global outreach programme. The event is being promoted as the “Universal Oneness Celebration.”
Mamdani Says He Does Not Support the Rally
Speaking at a press conference, Mamdani was asked whether the event should be cancelled.
The mayor said he did not support the rally but questioned whether New York City authorities had jurisdiction over a private event.
His comments reflect a distinction between his personal and political opposition to the RSS event and the legal powers available to the city government.
‘Deep Opposition’ to RSS Ideology
Mamdani also explained the broader reasons behind his opposition.
He said the India he learned about through his family was a pluralistic and secular republic in which every person should have a sense of belonging.
He described the rise of what he called an “exclusionary vision” as deeply troubling and said he was therefore in strong opposition to the movement.
Mamdani Highlights His Indian-American Background
Mamdani noted that he is the first Indian-American mayor in New York City’s history and said his mother’s family remains in India.
He linked his position on the RSS to the values of pluralism and inclusion that he said shaped his understanding of India while growing up.
Bhagwat’s New York Event on August 29
Bhagwat arrived in the United States as part of the RSS’s global outreach during its centenary year.
The New York programme is expected to bring together around 5,000 members of the Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden. Organisers say the gathering focuses on shared heritage and interfaith unity within the Hindu-American community.
Protests and Calls for Cancellation
The event has also faced opposition from some activists, civil-rights groups and political figures.
Some groups have urged Mamdani to use his position to stop the programme, while protests have been organised over Bhagwat’s appearance and concerns surrounding the RSS’s ideology and history.
RSS Rejects Allegations of Intolerance
The RSS has rejected allegations that it promotes intolerance or violence against minorities and describes itself as a cultural organisation focused on Hindu society and national unity.
The organisation has also undertaken international outreach efforts aimed at countering perceptions about its activities.
Free-Speech and Legal Questions
Mamdani’s comments also highlight the legal complexities surrounding attempts to cancel a private gathering.
Even when a public official strongly disagrees with the views associated with an event, the government may have limited authority to prevent a privately organised programme from taking place, particularly when constitutional free-expression protections are involved.
A Debate Over India’s Political Identity
The controversy has brought competing views of India’s political and social identity into the spotlight.
Mamdani has framed his opposition around a vision of India based on secularism and pluralism, while the RSS presents itself as a cultural movement representing Hindu society.
The New York event has therefore become a point of debate not only over the RSS but also over how India’s political developments are viewed within the Indian-American community.
What Happens Next
Bhagwat’s event remains scheduled for August 29 at Madison Square Garden. Mamdani has made his opposition clear, but he has also indicated that the city may not have the authority to cancel the private gathering.
The controversy is likely to continue as supporters and opponents of the event debate the RSS’s role, political ideology and place within the Indian diaspora.