RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat NYC event LIVE: Bhagwat set to speak at Madison Square Garden today

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is set to deliver a speech at Madison Square Garden in New York as part of the 'Universal Oneness Celebrations' event organized by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) forum. The event, which will take place between 2 pm and 5:30 pm (ET) or 11:30 pm and 3:00 am (IST), will feature over 5,000 attendees, more than 250 partner organizations, and around 26 volunteers.

The event's organizers describe it as a "one-of-a-kind celebration" that aims to promote unity among diverse communities.

The event has sparked controversy due to remarks made by New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, who called the movement based on the RSS's ideology "incredibly troubling" and a "vision that was based on exclusion." Mamdani, who is also the first Indian American mayor in New York City's history, emphasized his opposition to the rally while acknowledging his own family's roots in India. He maintained a commitment to a pluralistic and secular society, contrasting it with the exclusionary vision of the RSS movement.