New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has become embroiled in a significant controversy following his remarks on an upcoming event featuring Mohan Bhagwat, the leader of the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Bhagwat is scheduled to appear at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
Mamdani stated at a press conference Tuesday, "I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on canceling a private event." He added, "It has been incredibly troubling to see the rise of a movement that is predicated on an exclusionary vision of any country, frankly, and so it is one that I find myself in deep opposition to."
These statements have prompted accusations of Hinduphobia, bias towards Muslims, and an intention to antagonize a religious and ethnic group. This controversy follows Mamdani's vocal criticism of Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which has previously led to tensions with some Jewish leaders and communities in New York.
However, Mamdani is not alone in his criticism. Several Hindu, Muslim, interfaith, and human rights activists have also protested the event and called for its cancellation.
Mohan Bhagwat leads the RSS, described as a Hindu-centric civilisational and cultural movement, and is affiliated with India's ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While not a politician, Bhagwat is considered one of India's most influential figures due to his leadership of the RSS. Critics, including academics and activists, describe the RSS as a right-wing Hindu nationalist paramilitary organization accused of promoting intolerance and inciting violence against minorities, particularly Muslims, in India. Some scholars have characterized its ideology as "an Indian version of fascism."
Mamdani, who is Muslim with Hindu heritage on his mother's side, has been a vocal critic of the RSS. Nishant Upadhyay, an associate professor of Asian American studies at the University of Colorado Boulder specializing in Hindu nationalism, explained that the RSS, founded in 1925, promotes the idea that India should exclusively be for Hindus. Over the past century, this ideology has been associated with escalating violence against Muslim and Christian communities.
The RSS functions as an umbrella organization for Hindu nationalist groups in India and abroad, with the BJP seen as its political arm. The RSS provides ideological support for the BJP, which has been in power for approximately 12 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During this period, the Hindu nationalist agenda has become more prominent, leading to increased violence, surveillance, and discrimination against religious minorities and caste-oppressed communities.
The diaspora's reaction to Bhagwat's visit is complex. While past events featuring Prime Minister Modi have drawn large crowds, there has been sustained activism against the RSS and BJP by human rights organizations and segments of the Indian diaspora for decades. However, the Hindu right-wing diaspora has also become increasingly active and mobilized over the past 15 years, gaining economic and political influence in the U.S.
Mamdani's family has a background in progressive, anti-Hindutva ideology, which contrasts with the views of the more conservative Hindu right-wing voices in the diaspora. His mother, a renowned progressive filmmaker, has made films addressing structural violence in India.
Regarding comparisons to his criticisms of Israel and Netanyahu, analysts suggest Mamdani's stance is a critique of specific hyper-nationalist political ideologies, rather than an indictment of entire religious groups. He has a history of activism, including support for Palestinians and Muslims and opposition to fascism, predating his political career. He has also spoken out against the incarceration of critics of the BJP, such as Muslim PhD scholar Umar Khalid.
The significance of Mamdani's remarks extends beyond the immediate controversy, drawing attention to the increasing mainstreaming of Hindu nationalist ideology in the U.S. Experts express concern about the potential for such events to embolden those who engage in harassment and threats against minority communities within the Indian diaspora in America.