Mohan Bhagwat’s NYC visit is about power, not culture

Mohan Bhagwat, the head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is set to visit New York City in the coming week. This visit occurs amidst growing criticism in the United States over alleged religious freedom violations in India. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has urged Washington to deny Bhagwat diplomatic courtesies and consider sanctions against RSS members.

The Biden administration, however, has dismissed these calls as "biased." New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly opposed a planned event at Madison Square Garden, labeling the RSS's ideology as exclusionary and incompatible with India's pluralistic nature. This opposition reflects a broader refusal among South Asian Americans to view Hindutva as harmless cultural pride.

The opposition to Bhagwat's visit is not limited to fringe groups; it is broad, multiracial, and morally clear-eyed. A mobile billboard has been circulating Manhattan with the message "RSS Killed Gandhi," highlighting the RSS's association with violence and exclusion. The RSS has been actively cultivating the Indian diaspora, which is wealthy, professionally successful, and politically connected.

Various organizations, such as the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and the CoHNA Youth Action Network (CYAN), have been promoting Hindutva ideology and engaging with local and federal authorities to combat "Hinduphobia." This tour is part of the RSS's centenary year global outreach, with the Madison Square Garden event being organized by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) Forum.

The visit is seen as a political intervention, aiming to normalize Hindutva ideology in Western democracies and cultivate diaspora influence. The USCIRF's recommendations, including asset freezes and visa restrictions, reflect a growing recognition of the RSS's influence abroad.