X suspends account of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s New York event organisers | World News - Hindustan Times

**X suspends account of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s New York event organiser**

The social‑media platform X, formerly Twitter, blocked the official handle of AHEAD International, the New York‑based firm that had been coordinating a public programme for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden. The suspension came on the eve of the event, which was slated for early October and had attracted considerable attention from both Indian diaspora groups and U.S. watchdogs. AHEAD’s account had been used to disseminate event details, ticketing information and promotional material, and its removal effectively cut off a primary channel for reaching potential attendees.

The move follows a series of warnings from U.S. officials and civil‑society organisations. In a recent hearing, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom urged the Department of State to consider sanctions against RSS members, citing concerns over the organization’s alleged links to extremist activities. Simultaneously, a Hindu advocacy group issued an advisory urging “vigilance” and reminding U.S. authorities of their “sworn duty” to monitor the gathering, arguing that the event could serve as a platform for communal polarisation. X has not disclosed a specific policy breach, but its standard community‑guidelines enforcement typically targets accounts that are deemed to facilitate hate speech or coordinated harassment.

Indian political leaders and RSS supporters have condemned the suspension as an affront to free expression. In statements to the press, senior RSS figures described the action as “politically motivated censorship” and called on X to reinstate the handle immediately. Meanwhile, organisers have shifted to alternative platforms, including Telegram and email newsletters, to keep the programme on track. The episode underscores the growing friction between diaspora‑linked political movements and U.S. regulatory scrutiny, raising questions about how social‑media companies will navigate the fine line between platform safety and the free flow of political discourse.