Mamdani opposes NYC event with leader of India's Hindu nationalist group

Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York City expressed on Tuesday his disapproval of an upcoming event featuring Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Hindu nationalist group affiliated with India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Bhagwat is set to speak at a Manhattan gathering on August 29. Mamdani, the city's first Muslim and Indian American mayor, stated that while he did not support the rally, he was uncertain whether the city could cancel a private event.

The event, titled the "Universal Oneness Celebration," aims to unite the Hindu American community, according to its organizers, American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue. The organizers claim the event has the backing of various Hindu American groups and promotes shared heritage and interfaith unity. However, local organizations have raised concerns over Bhagwat's attendance and the RSS's past.

Founded by Bhagwat, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is a significant Hindu group that later influenced India's governing party, the BJP. In May, the RSS announced organizing foreign visits, including to the United States, to challenge perceptions of it being a paramilitary organization involved in attacks on minority communities.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has accused the RSS of involvement in extreme violence and intolerance against minority groups for decades. Despite these accusations, the RSS maintains its stance as a Hindu-centric civilizational and cultural movement, aiming to elevate India to its highest potential by uniting Hindus.

Recent years have witnessed rising abuse of Indian minorities, as highlighted by United Nations and human rights groups. These abuses include increasing hate speeches, a religion-based citizenship law, the demolition of Muslim-owned properties, the removal of autonomy from Muslim-majority Kashmir, and an anti-conversion legislation that threatens freedom of belief.

The BJP-led Indian government denies these accusations, stating that its policies, including food subsidy programs and electrification drives, benefit all communities.