India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Wednesday defended a planned event in New York featuring its chief Mohan Bhagwat, hours after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he did not support the programme.
The event to be held at Madison Square Garden, ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’, has been drawing attention after Mamdani’s opposition.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani opposes the RSS’s planned ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’ event with chief Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden, which the RSS defends as promoting dialogue and inclusivity.
Responding to the controversy, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambedkar said the programme was being organised in the spirit of promoting dialogue and mutual understanding.
“Organized in the spirit of open dialogue and mutual respect, the event reflects Bharatiya ethos which is fundamentally inclusive and welcoming to all,” said Ambedkar in a post on X.
He said the initiative was part of the RSS’s tradition of interacting with diverse communities in India and around the world.
Such interactions, said Ambedkar, were done to promote understanding and identify areas of common ground.
The RSS’s defence came after Mamdani expressed his opposition to the event. The Mayor’s remarks have added political weight to a programme that is expected to see the participation of Bhagwat, head of influential Hindu nationalist organisation.
However, the RSS sought to reposition the gathering as one of open dialogue and inclusiveness.
The proposed Madison Square Garden event has turned into a talking point in New York and has raised questions about the RSS, its outreach and interaction with communities outside India.
The RSS has insisted that the event reflects its ongoing philosophy of promoting dialogue, respect and understanding of diverse communities.
