New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he does not support an upcoming event featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat.
The mayor's opposition highlights growing tensions over the presence of the RSS in the U.S., as critics argue the organization promotes a nationalist agenda that marginalizes minorities.
The gathering is scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden on Aug. 29, 2026 [1]. Mamdani said the vision of India promoted by the RSS is exclusionary and described the situation as "incredibly troubling to see" [2].
In a statement regarding the event, Mamdani said, "I don't support the rally" [3]. He said the vision of India he was taught is being changed, and he deeply opposes that shift [4].
The mayor is not alone in his concerns. A total of 61 civil-rights, faith-based, community, and advocacy organizations have urged the cancellation of the event [5]. These groups have cited concerns over the RSS's ideological framework and its impact on communal harmony.
Despite the opposition from the city's leadership and various community groups, the event remains on the calendar for this Friday. The RSS has not issued a formal response to the mayor's specific comments, though the organization continues to organize its global outreach efforts.
“"I don't support the rally."”
The public opposition from New York City's mayor signals a diplomatic and social friction point between local U.S. governance and Indian nationalist organizations. By aligning with 61 advocacy groups, Mamdani is framing the RSS event not as a matter of free speech, but as a challenge to the inclusive values of the city and the historical pluralism of India.
