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

Reuters ^ | August 25, 2026 | Kanishka Singh

[MinorityRepublican]

New ​York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Tuesday he did not support an upcoming ‌event in his city featuring the leader of the Hindu nationalist group that is the ideological parent of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is scheduled to speak at a Manhattan event on ​Saturday, according to the event's website.

"I don't support the rally, but I don't know if ​the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event," Mamdani, who is ⁠the first Muslim and Indian American mayor of New York City, said when asked if the event ​should be cancelled.

"The vision of India that I was taught by my family and one that I ​grew up being very familiar with was of a pluralistic society of a secular Republic that believed in the belonging of each and every person who was from India. And it has been incredibly troubling to see the rise ​of a movement that is predicated on an exclusionary vision."

The event's website casts the August 29 gathering ​as the "Universal Oneness Celebration" bringing together the Hindu American community.

The organizers, American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, say the ‌event ⁠is backed by several Hindu American groups and promotes shared heritage and interfaith unity. Many local organizations have criticized it over Bhagwat's attendance and the RSS' history.

The RSS, a powerful Hindu group from which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP emerged, said in May it had organised foreign visits, including to the U.S., ​to counter perceptions it ​is a paramilitary outfit ⁠involved in attacks on minority communities.

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TOPICS: US: New York
KEYWORDS: mamdani; mohanbhagwat; rashtriya; rss; ugandan

[TBP]

I hate to agree with Mamdani, but he’s right on this. The RSS is a militant Hindu terrorist group that kills minorities, including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and others. You do not meet with terrorists, even if you are one yourself.

[escapefromboston]

Would be cool if we didn’t have muslims or hindus in America.

[montag813]

"The vision of India that I was taught by my family and one that I ​grew up being very familiar with was of a pluralistic society of a secular Republic that believed in the belonging of each and every person who was from India.

So Hindus have to be "secular" and allow Muslims to "belong."

But Muslims can be as radical as they want to be, and Mohammed was the most perfect man in history.

Got it?

[packagingguy]

Don’t you remember the riots between Pakistanis and Indian a few years back that happened in…London?

“Hey, we have a great idea! Let’s import other people’s conflicts into our own country! Just what we need!”

[llevrok]

The idiot might not have noticed his city is home to the UN. That’s an honest mistake (sarc).

[Reily]

One of my daughter’s high school friends was an ethnic Indian girl. Very nice very pretty girl, her parents were very likable. The kid whose name I now forget but she told me when her mother was mad at her she would say “Are you a human being or a Muslim?”.

[yesthatjallen]

Muslims don’t like Hindus and visa versa. That’s why we have Pakistan and India.

[Mr Rogers]

And only 15 million people were displaced to make it happen. And 1-2 million died. I think it is safe to say there is at least as much hatred there as between Israel and the Arab Muslims...and maybe more!

[Bobbyvotes]

Actually the fact is India has 3rd highest population of Muslims in the world. And none of them want to go to Pakistan. My guess is the Muslims in India get along fine with Hindu’s who are the predominant majority in India. May be because India is the largest democracy in the world, while Pakistan had a string of dictatorships.

[yesthatjallen]

Hindus have a reason to hate Muslims. The Mughal invasion killed millions of Indians and destroyed temple cities and lasted centuries.

[xkaydet65]

Muslims don’t like Hindus and visa versa.....

Actually here in Hicksvill NY they get along quite well. They’ve even made a southern chain, Chick fil a, a lot of money. Chick fil A was convinced by a local businessman to open NY’s first C F A in Hicksville because muslims dont eat pork and Hindus dont eat beef but the both eat chicken. CHICK fil A did so and it’s one of the most successful in the nation.

[dayglored]

Oh the Catholics hate the Protestants, and the Protestants hate the Catholics, and the Hindus hate the Muslims, and everybody hates the Jews. But during National Brotherhood Week….

— Tom Lehrer