Zohran Mamdani gets called out over Pak Day after criticising Mohan Bhagwat's NY event - India Today

**Zohran Mamdani’s remarks on Mohan Bhagwat’s New York event trigger backlash over “Pak Day” comments** U.S. Representative Zohran Mamdani (D‑NY) faced a wave of criticism after he denounced the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s planned appearance at a New York gathering, calling the event a “Pak Day” stunt that could embolden anti‑Indian sentiment. Mamdani’s tweet, which linked the RSS’s overseas outreach to Pakistan‑linked narratives, was quickly amplified by several Indian diaspora groups and political figures who accused him of weaponising communal tensions. The congressman defended his stance, saying the criticism was rooted in concerns about the RSS’s ideological influence abroad and its potential impact on India‑U.S. relations.

The controversy spilled onto the social‑media platform X, where Mamdani’s account was temporarily blocked for several hours amid reports of coordinated harassment. The organization behind Bhagwat’s New York appearance, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), issued a security advisory warning attendees of possible disruptions and reaffirmed its commitment to “peaceful dialogue.” In a related development, X briefly suspended the accounts of two firms that had been contracted to manage logistics for the event, citing violations of the platform’s harassment policy. The temporary bans were lifted after the firms issued statements distancing themselves from any political agenda.

In Washington, the issue has attracted the attention of a U.S. religious‑freedom panel, which has opened a petition to sanction RSS members and to reconsider Mohan Bhagwat’s visa eligibility. The panel’s counsel argues that the RSS’s activities may contravene U.S. commitments to religious liberty and non‑discrimination, urging the State Department to revoke the chief’s visitor visa. The State Department has not yet commented on the petition, and the event’s organizers say they remain confident that the gathering will proceed in accordance with U.S. law.