An upcoming New York event featuring RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has sparked a controversy after Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he does not support it.
Mamdani said it was “incredibly troubling” to see the rise of what he described as a movement based on an “exclusionary vision”. He also said he was unsure whether the city had the authority to cancel the private event.
So, who is Mamdani, what did he say about the RSS, and why is Bhagwat in New York?
ALSO READ: Who is Zohran Mamdani, the Socialist Shaking Up New York Politics?
Who Is Zohran Mamdani?
Zohran Mamdani is New York City’s first Muslim mayor and the first mayor of South Asian heritage. Born in Uganda to Indian parents, he moved to New York as a child.
His rise to City Hall followed his victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary. Mamdani then won the November mayoral election.
His campaign focused on affordability, including housing and the cost of living. His Indian heritage has also featured in his public comments, including his response to Mohan Bhagwat’s upcoming event.
What Did Mamdani Say About The RSS Event?
Mamdani said he did not support the upcoming event featuring RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. But he also made it clear that his opposition did not mean the city could simply stop the gathering.
Asked whether the event should be cancelled, Mamdani said: “I don't support the rally, but I don't know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event.”
Explaining his position, Mamdani referred to his Indian roots. He said the India he was taught about by his family was “a pluralistic society of a secular Republic that believed in the belonging of each and every person who was from India.”
He then said: “And it has been incredibly troubling to see the rise of a movement that is predicated on an exclusionary vision.”
Mamdani was expressing his own view of the movement. He did not announce any decision by New York City to cancel the event. His comments instead drew a distinction between his opposition to the gathering and the city's legal authority over a private event.
ALSO WATCH: Zohran Mamdani has a message for King Charles.
So, Why Is Mohan Bhagwat In New York?
Bhagwat's US visit is part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach.
The RSS was founded in 1925, and the organisation has been marking 100 years of its existence. Bhagwat's overseas programme includes outreach among Indian-origin communities and public engagements in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The New York event is scheduled for Saturday, 29 August.
Bhagwat is expected to address members of the Indian diaspora as part of a programme called the Universal Oneness Celebration. The event is expected to draw thousands of people.
ALSO WATCH: We Americans pay for the bombs that do the killing: Mamdani on Benjamin Netanyahu
What Is The Event Actually About?
The event has been promoted as the Universal Oneness Celebration.
It is being organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, or AHEAD. The programme has been presented as a gathering focused on shared heritage and unity within the Hindu-American community.
Bhagwat's participation, however, has ensured that the event is being viewed through a political lens as well.
The RSS describes itself as a Hindu social and cultural organisation. Critics, including some rights groups and political leaders, have raised concerns about its ideology and its influence in Indian public life.
The RSS has rejected allegations that it promotes intolerance and has maintained that its work focuses on Hindu society, social service and national development.
That ideological divide is now at the centre of the New York controversy.
Why Are There Protests?
Mamdani is not the only person to oppose Bhagwat's appearance.
Several US-based organisations have raised objections to the event and Bhagwat's visit, arguing that the RSS's ideology should be challenged. Reuters reported that local groups had raised concerns about Bhagwat's attendance because of the organisation's controversial history and allegations relating to its treatment of minorities.
Supporters and organisers, however, have presented the event as a community gathering centred on unity and shared cultural heritage.
This is why the story has become bigger than just one speech.
For critics, Bhagwat's appearance has reopened questions about the RSS and its ideology.
For organisers and supporters, it is part of a major global outreach effort during the organisation's centenary year.
What Happens Now?
As of 26 August, the event remains scheduled for 29 August in New York.
Mamdani has publicly stated that he does not support it. But he has also said he is unsure whether New York City has the legal authority to cancel a private event.
That means the immediate controversy is unlikely to be about whether Mamdani agrees with Bhagwat.
He clearly does not.
The bigger question is what happens when political disagreement meets the legal right to hold a private gathering.
And with the RSS chief's New York appearance now drawing attention from supporters, critics and political groups, the debate is set to continue well beyond the event itself.
TL;DR | News At A Glance
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Zohran Mamdani is the Mayor of New York City and has described himself as the city's first Indian-American mayor.
What did he say about Mohan Bhagwat's event?
He said he does not support the gathering and criticised what he described as an exclusionary political vision.
Did Mamdani cancel the event?
No. He said he was unsure whether New York City had jurisdiction to cancel a private event.
Why is Mohan Bhagwat in the US?
His visit is part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach programme.
When is the event?
The Universal Oneness Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, 29 August.
Why is it controversial?
Critics have objected to Bhagwat's appearance because of concerns about the RSS's ideology, while organisers have presented the gathering as a celebration of unity and Hindu-American community heritage.
