New York: Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, widely considered the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party, is scheduled to address about 5,000 members of Indian American groups in the Infosys Theater, located in Madison Square Garden.
Titled “Universal Oneness Celebration,” the event is being organized by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue.
Meanwhile, those who are opposing the meeting have accused the RSS of promoting the political ideology of Hindutva, which means “the essence of being Hindu,” and seeks to define Indian culture and national identity in terms of Hindu values.
In fact, the BJP and its branches have also been accused of fostering a culture of intolerance and committing human rights violations such as mob lynchings, targeting minority places of worship and razing Muslim-owned properties with bulldozers, which are all blatant lies.
Meanwhile, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly declared his opposition to the event, labeling RSS ideology as exclusionary and contrary to the pluralistic views of the city.
The group’s news release says the event is a collaboration among more than 200 Hindu American organizations and is built around the ancient Sanskrit phrase “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which means “the world is one family.” Expected attendees include entrepreneurs, educators, artists, youth leaders, faith leaders and public officials, as well as representatives from temples and yoga centers.
US singer and actress Mary Millben has slammed critics, especially New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, for opposing the event at the iconic Madison Square Garden (MSG). The African-American singer accused Bhagwat’s opponents of being driven purely by hostility toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
