RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived in New York on Tuesday. It is the first stop of his 17-day, three-country tour. Indian women welcomed him at New York’s JFK Airport by applying tilak on his forehead.
Bhagwat’s visit is part of the RSS’s global outreach programme marking its centenary year. Several programmes are being organised in India and abroad to mark 100 years of the RSS. As part of this initiative, Bhagwat will visit the US, Canada and the UK.
According to the Sangh, during the tour he will meet people of Indian origin and representatives of local organisations. On August 29, Bhagwat will attend the ‘Universal Oneness’ programme at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Meanwhile, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he does not support the RSS rally
Bhagwat met members of the Indian community at New York Airport.
Bhagwat to address Indians at Madison Square Garden
The ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’ at Madison Square Garden is being organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) Forum. Bhagwat will also address the gathering.
The programme is being held on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. According to the organisers, the traditional spirit of Raksha Bandhan will be linked to messages of unity, civic responsibility and global harmony. The event will also feature cultural performances. People from different religions and communities will also attend.
New York Mayor Mamdani opposes Bhagwat’s event
Ahead of Bhagwat’s programme, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he does not support the RSS rally. When asked whether the RSS event should be cancelled, he said he did not know whether the city had the authority to cancel a private event.
Mamdani said, “I am New York’s first Indian-American mayor. My family showed me a vision of a pluralistic and secular India, where there is a place for everyone. I oppose any ideology that seeks to exclude people. New York also believes in giving equal space to people of every colour, religion and background.”
US commission had sought ban on RSS
Ahead of Bhagwat’s US visit, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called for a ban on the RSS. On August 19, the commission also urged the US government not to provide high-level diplomatic courtesies to RSS leaders or hold official meetings with them.
India objected to USCIRF’s comments. On August 20, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the commission a “biased organisation”. He said USCIRF has long been making inaccurate and inflammatory statements about India, and therefore its remarks do not need to be taken seriously.
March report recommended action against RSS and RAW
In its annual report in March, USCIRF had also raised concerns about religious freedom in India. The report recommended banning certain organisations and individuals, including the RSS and RAW.
India rejected the report as “distorted and selective”. The government said the report relied on sources whose credibility was questionable and presented a one-sided picture of the situation in India.
Bhagwat had also visited US in 2018
Mohan Bhagwat had previously visited the US in September 2018. He attended the second World Hindu Congress, held in Chicago from September 7 to 9, 2018. Around 2,500 delegates from 60 countries participated in the event. Bhagwat delivered the keynote address at the opening session of the congress.
Available reports on his 2018 visit do not mention any meeting between Bhagwat and a US diplomat or any formal diplomatic honour being extended to him. His visit was primarily focused on the World Hindu Congress and related events.
