Protests, Visa Row and an X Block: Bhagwat’s New York Event Under Spotlight

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's visit to the United States has snowballed into a wider diplomatic and political controversy, days ahead of his scheduled address at the "Universal Oneness Celebrations" at the Infosys Theater, Madison Square Garden, on August 29. Bhagwat arrived in New York on August 25, the first leg of a three-nation outreach tour covering the US, Canada and the UK, timed with the RSS's centenary year. Organisers, the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) Forum, describe the event as an interfaith, multicultural gathering expected to draw around 5,000 attendees and over 200 supporting organisations.

The programme has faced sustained opposition. Groups including Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council, Dalit Solidarity Forum, Save America from Hindutva and dozens of civil-rights and faith organisations have held press conferences and issued reports alleging RSS links to religious-minority violence in India, urging US authorities to intervene. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly opposed Bhagwat's appearance, calling the RSS's vision "exclusionary," though he indicated the city likely lacks legal power to block a private event.

Adding to the row, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) formally urged the Trump administration to revoke Bhagwat's visa and impose targeted sanctions, citing alleged attacks on Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and Dalits by RSS affiliates, and accusing New Delhi of "transnational repression." India's Ministry of External Affairs rejected the charges, calling USCIRF a "biased organisation" lacking credibility.

Separately, AHEAD's X account went temporarily unavailable, with the platform citing a rules violation without elaborating. AHEAD said it believed the suspension was accidental or the result of coordinated "bot" activity by "misguided opponents" attempting to game X's systems; the account was restored within hours after X's support team intervened, and no independent confirmation of the exact cause has emerged.

In India, the controversy triggered political sparring, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav needling the RSS over the purpose of Bhagwat's overseas trip. AHEAD has also issued a safety advisory for attendees amid the charged atmosphere. With protests, visa demands and social-media disputes converging, Bhagwat's Madison Square Garden appearance has become a flashpoint reflecting starkly divergent global views of the RSS.