NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he will not back RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's Madison Square Garden rally
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he does not support a planned gathering featuring RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden, noting the city may lack authority to block the private event.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly stated that he does not support a forthcoming event that would host Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden. He explained that the city likely does not possess the legal jurisdiction to stop a privately arranged rally. The planned gathering is part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach program, which has drawn calls for protests in the United States.
Mamdani's comments were given while fielding questions about the RSS and the potential demonstrations surrounding Bhagwat's visit. He emphasized the distinction between personal opposition and municipal authority. The remarks underscore the broader debate over foreign political groups holding events on U.S. soil. No official action to cancel the rally has been announced.
Why it matters
The mayor's stance signals local resistance to a controversial foreign political group's event in a major U.S. venue.
In this story
