New York: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday said he does not support an upcoming event at Madison Square Garden where Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to address members of the Indian diaspora. Mamdani, however, acknowledged that the city may not have the authority to cancel what he described as a private event.
Bhagwat is scheduled to attend the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden on August 29 as part of the RSS’s centenary-year global outreach programme. Around 5,000 people are expected to attend the gathering.
Zohran Mamdani Says He Does Not Support RSS Event
Responding to questions at a news conference about the event and protests surrounding it, Mamdani said, “I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event.”
The Indian-origin mayor also spoke about his personal connection with India, noting that he is New York City’s first Indian-American mayor and that his mother’s family continues to live in India.
Mamdani said the India he had grown up learning about was a pluralistic and secular republic where people from different backgrounds belonged.
He said he was deeply opposed to movements that, in his view, promote an “exclusionary vision” of a country, adding that his position was shaped both by his Indian-American background and his role as mayor of a diverse city.
Groups Protest Mohan Bhagwat’s Madison Square Garden Appearance
Mamdani’s comments came as several interfaith and civil rights organisations voiced opposition to Bhagwat’s scheduled appearance.
Groups including Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council and the Interfaith Center of New York held a press conference outside New York City Hall and called upon Madison Square Garden to cancel the event.
Despite the opposition, the Universal Oneness Celebration remains scheduled for August 29.
What Is The Universal Oneness Celebration?
The Universal Oneness Celebration is being organised by AHEAD Forum, which has announced Bhagwat’s participation in the New York event.
According to the organisers, the programme is centred on the message that “the world is one family” and seeks to promote mutual respect, harmony and unity beyond social and cultural differences.
Bhagwat arrived in the United States on Tuesday as part of the RSS’s international outreach during its centenary year. His itinerary also includes visits to Canada and the United Kingdom.
The New York programme is expected to be one of the major engagements during the tour, with Bhagwat set to address thousands of members of the Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
