Mamdani Slams Hindu Nationalism Ahead of NYC RSS Event

New York – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has openly criticized the rise of Hindu nationalism, weighing in on a controversial event set to take place in his city this weekend. His comments came after reporters asked whether he backed a Manhattan gathering featuring a senior Indian religious-political leader.

Mamdani made clear he does not support the rally. However, he also noted that city authority may not extend to blocking a privately organized function, even one drawing sharp public criticism.

The event in question will host Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, widely known as the RSS. This group is considered the ideological foundation behind India’s ruling party, the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking about his own upbringing, Mamdani shared a personal reflection. He said his family taught him to view India as a secular, welcoming nation where every citizen, regardless of background, truly belonged.

He added that watching a movement grow around narrower, exclusionary ideas has been deeply unsettling for him. As the city’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor, his remarks carry personal as well as political weight.

The gathering itself is being promoted as a “Universal Oneness Celebration.” Organizers describe it as a chance to bring the Hindu American community together in a spirit of unity.

A group called American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue is leading the event. They claim support from multiple Hindu American organizations and say the goal is celebrating shared culture and interfaith harmony.

Not everyone agrees with that framing, though. Several local community organizations have pushed back strongly, pointing to Bhagwat’s history and the RSS’s broader reputation.

Earlier this year, RSS leadership stated it had arranged trips abroad, including to the United States. The stated purpose was reshaping the group’s image, since it has often been labeled a paramilitary-style organization linked to attacks on minority communities.

That labeling isn’t just activist rhetoric, either. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has gone on record stating the RSS has a decades-long pattern tied to serious violence and intolerance against minority groups.

For its part, the RSS firmly rejects these accusations. The organization describes itself instead as a cultural and civilizational movement, one focused on uniting Hindus and elevating the nation’s global standing.

Beyond this single event, the bigger picture is drawing international attention too. Human rights organizations and United Nations officials have flagged a troubling pattern of rising hostility toward religious minorities in India.

Their concerns include an increase in hate speech, controversial citizenship laws tied to religion, and the demolition of properties owned by Muslim residents.

India’s BJP-led government, however, strongly denies any discriminatory intent. Officials point to nationwide programs, including food subsidies and electrification initiatives, arguing these benefit every community equally, without bias.

As Saturday’s event approaches, tension between free assembly rights and community concerns continues to build. Mamdani’s comments have added a prominent political voice to an already heated public debate.

Whether the rally proceeds without disruption or faces further pushback remains to be seen. For now, the mayor’s stance has placed New York City at the center of a much larger, global conversation about religious identity and nationalism.