NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani opposes RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's Madison Square Garden event - Telegraph India

**NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Opposes RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Madison Square Garden Event**

*New York City –* The mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, publicly rejected a scheduled appearance by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden, citing concerns that the event could “legitimize extremist rhetoric and polarise communities.” In a statement released on Tuesday, Mayor Mamdani said the city would not provide any official support or security assistance beyond what is required by law, and urged organizers to reconsider the venue given New York’s diverse population and recent spikes in hate‑crime incidents. The mayor’s remarks came after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) announced that Bhagwat would address an audience of diaspora supporters on October 15, marking the first time the organization has sought a high‑profile platform in the United States.

The announcement triggered swift backlash from a coalition of inter‑faith groups, led by the Inter‑American Muslim Council (IAMC) and joined by Jewish, Sikh and Christian organisations. Protesters gathered outside the Garden on Thursday, holding signs that read “No Hate, No Violence” and “Keep Extremism Out of Our Streets.” IAMC spokesperson Aisha Khan argued that the RSS’s “history of communal mobilisation and anti‑minority rhetoric” conflicted with New York’s commitment to pluralism, and urged city officials to revoke any permits that could facilitate the gathering. Several faith leaders also warned that the event might embolden fringe elements and increase the risk of targeted attacks against vulnerable communities.

Representatives of the RSS defended the planned speech as a “cultural and spiritual discourse” aimed at uniting the Indian diaspora, and Mohan Bhagwat’s office issued a brief response emphasizing “the universal values of duty, service and nation‑building.” Indian media outlets offered divergent perspectives: *The Hindu* highlighted the protest’s “faith‑based solidarity,” while *The Times of India* quoted a popular singer who, in a televised interview, advised the mayor to “become a capitalist, raise money, and keep politics out of culture.” Despite these mixed messages, the event’s future remains uncertain as city officials weigh the legal obligations for public safety against the mounting public opposition.

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