Mamdani Voices Opposition To Bhagwat Event As 61 Groups Seek Its Cancellation
NEW YORK, NY-New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has signaled that his administration is unlikely to intervene to stop an event featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden, saying the city may not have the authority to cancel a private gathering.
“I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on canceling a private event,” Mamdani told reporters on August 25.
His remarks came as a coalition of 61 civil rights, faith, community and advocacy organizations urged Madison Square Garden to cancel the August 29 event featuring Bhagwat.
Mamdani said he opposed movements based on an exclusionary vision, while recalling the idea of India he inherited from his family.
“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.
“The vision of India that I was taught by my family, and the 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,” Mamdani said.
“And it has been incredibly troubling to see the rise of a movement that is predicated on an exclusionary vision of any country, frankly,” he added.
Mamdani said he found himself “in deep opposition” to such a movement, both as an Indian American and as the mayor of a diverse city.
Brad Lander, the Democratic nominee for New York’s 10th Congressional District, New York City Council Member Shahana Hanif and representatives of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Dalit and Christian communities joined the effort against the Bhagwat event at a news conference outside New York City Hall.
Referring to Madison Square Garden’s hosting of a German American Bund rally in 1939, Lander said: “It should not host this one.”
Hanif said New York’s diverse South Asian communities “have felt the impacts of the hateful ideology and violence associated with the RSS.”
Amin Zama of the Indian American Muslim Council said the effort was directed against an ideology rather than a religious community.
“Our message today is not against Hindus,” he said. “Our message is against an ideology that seeks to define citizenship and national belonging through religious identity.” (IANS)
Jay
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Mamdani calls himself as the first Indian American mayor. He does not have Indian citizenship. He is a dual citizen of USA and Uganda. He is just another politician seeking votes and influence. This is a tiger in sheep clothing. Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eNjxx3MZn0. He is just another anti-Hindu politician trying to please other Hindu-phobics.
August 26, 2026iyer
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Based on Amin Zama’s logic, then why do we have “Islamic” republic of Pakistan and other countries whose foundation is “islamic”, isn’t that an “islamic” identity vs community-at-large. Hypocritical.
August 26, 2026Hemendra Acharya
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It is ironic that people who always proclaim themselves to be proponents of Free Speech suddenly become part of Cancel culture whenever there is any organized activity that supports Hindu religion. People who criticize them do not know that Hindu religion is the only religion in the world that is really inclusive. As Krishna says in Bhagwaad Geeta: “Just as all rivers follow different paths but merge into the ocean, similarly you can follow different path but still attain me.” A false narrative has been created that those who speak for Hindu rights are communal or exclusive. There is no evidence to prove that minorities are discriminated in India. This false narrative has been peddled in the media and the academia without any real hard data to prove the point.
August 26, 2026Shyam Sharma
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He is a lier. Don’t trust this guy.
August 26, 2026A Kumar
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Bhagwat has not yet spoken but people have already made up their minds. That’s the influence of a great leader. He is here to shine light on darkness of American people. Wake up enlightened.
August 26, 2026Dr. Nat Subramonian
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Mayor Mamdani is right in saying India is a Secular Republic and is frustrated he cannot stop people who might spread hatred towards religions other than Hinduism!
August 26, 2026FreePerson
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There’re 50+ Muslim countries in the World. In many of these you cannot even have Church or Temple (Hindu or Jews) built to worship.
Mamdani is not Indian. He’s a typical Muslim, who believes in “mine is mine, but yours is ours”!
He called the Prime Minister, Mr Modi, a war criminal.
He’s a liar.
For context:
India’s Muslim population in 1947, when Pakistan was created, was 35M, 10% of then population. Currently the Muslim population is 220M, 15%.
While when Pakistan was created in 1947, Hindu population was 4M, 15%. Currently, it’s 1.6M, about 4%. And many live there with a constant fear of forcible conversion.
In 1947, Sikh population was 1.5M in Pakistan, currently 16K.
August 26, 2026