NYC Mayor Mamdani opposes RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Madison Square event - The Indian Express

**NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly opposes RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s planned rally at Madison Square Garden**

Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City, announced on Monday that he will not endorse or provide municipal support for a rally scheduled for early September in which RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) chief Mohan Bhagwat is expected to address a diaspora audience at Madison Square Garden. In a press briefing, Mamdani said, “The city will not lend its resources to any event that could promote communal tension or undermine the values of inclusivity that New York stands for.” The mayor’s statement comes as the event, organized by the India‑America Forum, seeks a venue capable of hosting several thousand attendees and has attracted attention from both Indian‑American community groups and local officials.

Mamdani cited concerns over the RSS’s history of polarising rhetoric and alleged links to extremist activities in India. He warned that a high‑profile appearance by Bhagwat could embolden fringe elements and potentially spark protests that would strain city police resources. “Our priority is public safety and the preservation of a civic space that respects all faiths,” the mayor added. While he stopped short of labeling the RSS a hate group, Mamdani emphasized that any event that risks inciting division is incompatible with New York’s commitment to multicultural harmony.

The mayor’s stance has been echoed by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and a coalition of faith‑based organisations that organised a march outside the venue earlier this week. Representatives from the IAMC described the rally as an “unwelcome platform for an ideology that has historically marginalized minorities.” The RSS, for its part, defended the gathering as a cultural and educational program, asserting that Bhagwat will speak on “India’s development and the contributions of the diaspora.” The clash of viewpoints underscores a broader debate within the Indian diaspora about the role of right‑wing organisations in overseas politics and the responsibilities of host cities in regulating such events.