‘I don’t support the rally but… ‘: NYC Mayor Zohran opposes RSS event at Madison Square Garden - The Indian Express

**New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani says he does not endorse the RSS rally but will not block it**

*New York –* Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly stated that while he does not support the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s planned rally at Madison Square Garden, he will not intervene to stop the event from taking place. In a press briefing on Tuesday, Mamdani said, “I don’t support the rally, but I respect the right of peaceful assembly guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.” He added that the city’s role is to ensure public safety and maintain order, not to police the content of lawful gatherings. The mayor’s remarks come as the RSS, a right‑wing Hindu nationalist organization, has announced a high‑profile gathering in New York that is expected to draw thousands of supporters and attract international attention.

The announcement has sparked protests from a coalition of Indian-American community groups, including the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and several interfaith organisations. Demonstrators gathered outside the venue on Thursday, holding placards that read “No hate, no hate” and “Protect religious freedom for all.” Representatives of the IAMC accused the RSS of fostering sectarian rhetoric and warned that the rally could inflame communal tensions among the city’s diverse South Asian diaspora. Local police have deployed additional officers and set up barriers around Madison Square Garden, citing standard security protocols for large‑scale events.

City officials have indicated that they are monitoring the situation closely. The NYPD’s counter‑terrorism unit is working with federal authorities to assess any credible threats, while the mayor’s office has pledged to provide “unbiased protection” for both participants and protesters. Mayor Mamdani emphasized that the city’s commitment to free speech does not preclude it from taking decisive action should violence erupt. As the scheduled date approaches, community leaders on both sides are urging calm and dialogue, hoping that the event will remain peaceful and that New York’s long tradition of inclusive civic engagement will be upheld.