What Zohran Mamdani Said About RSS Rally at Madison Square Garden Where Mohan Bhagwat Will Speak

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he does not support the planned Madison Square Garden event featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, while acknowledging that the city may not have the legal authority to cancel the privately organised gathering.

Bhagwat is scheduled to address around 5,000 members of the Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden on August 29 as part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach programme. Mamdani made his comments at a news conference on Tuesday while responding to questions about the event and protests calling for its cancellation. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani Opposes RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Madison Square Garden Event.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Opposes RSS Event

‘I Don’t Support the Rally’

Asked whether the event should be cancelled, Mamdani gave a direct response. “I don't support the rally, but I don't know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event,” he said. Mamdani's statement made his personal opposition to the gathering clear, but he stopped short of saying that his administration would attempt to prevent it. His comments also distinguished between his political position on the event and the city's authority over a privately organised programme. ‘Egypt Were Robbed’, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani Takes Viral Dig at Argentina’s Controversial FIFA World Cup 2026 Win (Watch Video).

Zohran Mamdani Cites His Connection to India

Mamdani also referred to his Indian heritage while explaining his position. “I also stand here as the first Indian-American Mayor in our city's history, and my mother's family is all still in India,” he said. He went on to describe the India he was familiar with growing up as “a pluralistic society” and “a secular republic” where every person from India belonged.

Mamdani said he found the emergence of what he described as an exclusionary political movement troubling. He said his opposition came both from his identity as an Indian-American and from his position as mayor of a city that, in his words, believes in the belonging of people regardless of their colour, creed, religion or place of origin.

What Is Planned at Madison Square Garden?

Bhagwat is scheduled to appear at the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden on August 29. The event is being organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) Forum. Organisers have presented the programme as an occasion focused on shared heritage, harmony and the idea that “the world is one family.”

Bhagwat arrived in the United States on Tuesday as part of a wider international programme marking 100 years of the RSS. His itinerary includes engagements in the US, Canada and the UK.

Protests Over Mohan Bhagwat’s Appearance

Mamdani's remarks came as several civil rights, interfaith and community organisations opposed Bhagwat's appearance. A coalition of organisations held a press conference outside New York City Hall and urged Madison Square Garden to cancel the event. Groups reported as participating include Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council and the Interfaith Centre of New York.

The opposition centres on the RSS's ideology and its record on issues involving religious and minority communities. The RSS describes itself as a cultural organisation focused on Hindu society and national unity, while critics have accused it of promoting an exclusionary vision.

RSS Event Still Scheduled

Despite the controversy, the August 29 programme remains scheduled. Mamdani's comments do not amount to a cancellation order. Instead, the mayor said he was unsure whether the city has jurisdiction to stop a private event.

The episode has therefore placed the mayor's political opposition to the gathering alongside a separate question of municipal authority over privately organised events.

Mohan Bhagwat’s US Visit

Bhagwat's visit forms part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach initiative. His appearance in New York is expected to draw a large gathering from the Indian diaspora. The controversy surrounding the Madison Square Garden programme has now attracted attention from political, civil rights and diaspora groups, while the event itself remains on the calendar for August 29.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2026 02:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).