RSS "exclusionary"? Mamdani's own records, including sheltering Md Khalil, who supported Hamas, complicate that charge, details
Mamdani has faced accusations of enabling calls for violent mobilization against Israel, and has been linked to sheltering or publicly defending Mahmoud Khalil, a figure who has expressed support for Hamas, among other points of criticism.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Tuesday, August 26, that he does not back the upcoming Madison Square Garden event where RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is set to address members of the Indian diaspora, though he acknowledged the city likely lacks the authority to cancel what he called a privately organized program set for August 29.
_202608261450052715_H@@IGHT_400_W@@IDTH_700.jpg "Mamdani RSS")
He went on to invoke his own background, saying, "I also stand here as the first Indian-American Mayor in our city's history, and my mother's family is all still in India." The India he said he was raised to understand through his family and his own upbringing was one of "a pluralistic society, of a secular republic that believed in the belonging of every person who was from India."
It's worth noting that Mamdani's own political record complicates this framing somewhat. He has faced accusations of enabling calls for violent mobilization against Israel, and has been linked to sheltering or publicly defending Mahmoud Khalil, a figure who has expressed support for Hamas, among other points of criticism.
Calling for violence against Jewish New Yorkers
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani was repeatedly pressed on the phrase "globalize the intifada," which many Jewish New Yorkers hear as an incitement to violence. Asked directly by Bulwark podcast host Tim Miller whether the phrase made him uncomfortable, Mamdani explained that he does not believe in banning language, drawing a comparison to Donald Trump's approach to leadership. He gave a similar answer to NBC's Kristen Welker, who pressed him three times to condemn the phrase; he declined each time, arguing that policing words wasn't the mayor's role.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand publicly urged Mamdani to denounce the phrase, arguing that regardless of its literal meaning, it is widely received as a threat against Jewish people. Facing sustained pressure, Mamdani eventually said in a July 2025 NY1 interview that he would personally discourage use of the phrase going forward, a partial shift, though he stopped short of an outright condemnation.
Mamdani aligned with DSA, an organization that has itself faced criticism for tolerating antisemitic rhetoric within its ranks
Mamdani is also a prominent, DSA-aligned elected official. The Democratic Socialists of America has faced sustained criticism from watchdog groups over its handling of antisemitism. The Anti-Defamation League notes that DSA passed a 2025 resolution making anti-Zionism a binding requirement for members and endorsed candidates, treating opposition to BDS or equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism as expellable offenses. The American Jewish Committee similarly documents DSA's shift from a historically pro-Israel organization into one actively promoting BDS and labeling Israel an "apartheid" state. Separately, DSA drew criticism in 2023 when only one of its congressionally aligned members condemned a chapter statement following the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Mamdani linked to defending Mahmoud Khalil, a figure who has voiced support for Hamas
These opposing organizations have alleged that the RSS and BJP have been behind sustained campaigns of violence against religious minorities in India spanning several decades, an accusation the RSS has consistently rejected. These 'progressive advocacy organizations' also have claimed that RSS' underlying ideology allegedly frames Muslim and Christian Indians as outsiders to the nation.
RSS never talked about excluding Muslims
A key point being overlooked by these U.S. officials and 'progressive groups' is that Bhagwat's outreach to Muslims is both political and ideological. Bhagwat has repeatedly emphasized the shared ancestry and cultural foundations linking Hindus and Muslims, unlike what is being claimed by these so-called progressive groups. His "same DNA" framing is meant to underscore that religious differences don't erase a common civilizational lineage.
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He has also pushed back directly against the notion that a Hindu Rashtra would leave no place for Muslims. During a 2018 lecture series in Delhi on the future of Bharat, he stated that a Hindu Rashtra doesn't mean excluding Muslims, describing Hindutva instead as a framework built on inclusivity and unity amid diversity. A separate report from around the same time quoted him saying that a Hindu Rashtra without Muslims would be inconceivable.
Even so, Bhagwat continues to encounter firm resistance from segments of America's interfaith and political circles. For AHEAD Forum and 135 Hindu American organizations that back the RSS chief, this tension sits at the heart of the controversy. Here is a leader who has publicly advocated for Muslim inclusion within his vision of Hindu Rashtra, yet is still being cast by critics as a figure of exclusion.
His comments came just hours after Bhagwat landed in the United States as part of the RSS's centenary-year global outreach initiative. While in New York, Bhagwat is expected to participate in the Universal Oneness programme and speak to a crowd of roughly 5,000 at the storied arena on Saturday. Fielding a question at a press conference about the RSS, the planned event, and the protests surrounding it, including whether it should be called off, Mamdani said, "I don't support the rally, but I don't know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event."
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (L), RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat (R), Khalil (C) (Loksatta)
He went on to invoke his own background, saying, "I also stand here as the first Indian-American Mayor in our city's history, and my mother's family is all still in India." The India he said he was raised to understand through his family and his own upbringing was one of "a pluralistic society, of a secular republic that believed in the belonging of every person who was from India."
"And 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, not only as an Indian-American but also as the Mayor of a city that believes deeply in the belonging of every person, no matter their colour, their creed, their religion, their faith, wherever they're from," he added.
#WATCH | RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat is set to address the Indian diaspora in New York for the 'Universal Oneness Celebrations' at Madison Square Garden on August 29, 2026.
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2026
Ahead of the event, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, "I also stand here as the first Indian American mayor… pic.twitter.com/MudVcDC83q
It's worth noting that Mamdani's own political record complicates this framing somewhat. He has faced accusations of enabling calls for violent mobilization against Israel, and has been linked to sheltering or publicly defending Mahmoud Khalil, a figure who has expressed support for Hamas, among other points of criticism.
Calling for violence against Jewish New Yorkers
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani was repeatedly pressed on the phrase "globalize the intifada," which many Jewish New Yorkers hear as an incitement to violence. Asked directly by Bulwark podcast host Tim Miller whether the phrase made him uncomfortable, Mamdani explained that he does not believe in banning language, drawing a comparison to Donald Trump's approach to leadership. He gave a similar answer to NBC's Kristen Welker, who pressed him three times to condemn the phrase; he declined each time, arguing that policing words wasn't the mayor's role.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand publicly urged Mamdani to denounce the phrase, arguing that regardless of its literal meaning, it is widely received as a threat against Jewish people. Facing sustained pressure, Mamdani eventually said in a July 2025 NY1 interview that he would personally discourage use of the phrase going forward, a partial shift, though he stopped short of an outright condemnation.
Mamdani aligned with DSA, an organization that has itself faced criticism for tolerating antisemitic rhetoric within its ranks
Mamdani is also a prominent, DSA-aligned elected official. The Democratic Socialists of America has faced sustained criticism from watchdog groups over its handling of antisemitism. The Anti-Defamation League notes that DSA passed a 2025 resolution making anti-Zionism a binding requirement for members and endorsed candidates, treating opposition to BDS or equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism as expellable offenses. The American Jewish Committee similarly documents DSA's shift from a historically pro-Israel organization into one actively promoting BDS and labeling Israel an "apartheid" state. Separately, DSA drew criticism in 2023 when only one of its congressionally aligned members condemned a chapter statement following the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Mamdani linked to defending Mahmoud Khalil, a figure who has voiced support for Hamas
Finally, Mamdani has built a public, personal relationship with Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia activist detained by federal immigration authorities over his role in pro-Palestinian campus protests. Mamdani called for Khalil's release, hosted him and his family for an iftar dinner at Gracie Mansion, and has described Khalil's detention as an attack on constitutional rights.
Mamdani hosted Khalil (Image- NY Times)
Bhagwat is on an overseas trip covering the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, and this is part of an international RSS tour that began August 25, 2026. The centerpiece of his travels is a gathering of over 5,000 people at Madison Square Garden, where he is scheduled to address the "Universal Oneness Celebrations" on August 29. He is expected to speak to roughly 5,000 Hindu Americans there. The event is organized by American Hindus For Engagement And Dialogue (AHEAD Forum), who welcomed the leader in a foreign land yesterday, saying, "The journey toward Universal Oneness begins."
@timesofindia @ndtv @IndiaToday @CNNnews18@News18India @aajtak @ABPNews @ZeeNews@TimesNow @republic @Republic_Bharat@WIONews @firstpost @the_hindu @IndianExpress @htTweets @EconomicTimes@livemint @businessline @bsindia@moneycontrolcom @CNBCTV18Live pic.twitter.com/LMrh9JKDuM
— AHEAD Forum (@Aheadforum1) August 25, 2026
Notably, while the organizers describe the event as a celebration of "Universal Oneness," opponents, including the Hindus for Human Rights and allied groups, argue it's an attempt to allegedly soften the RSS's history of alleged religious-supremacist and anti-minority activity while extending its reach in the U.S.
These opposing organizations have alleged that the RSS and BJP have been behind sustained campaigns of violence against religious minorities in India spanning several decades, an accusation the RSS has consistently rejected. These 'progressive advocacy organizations' also have claimed that RSS' underlying ideology allegedly frames Muslim and Christian Indians as outsiders to the nation.
RSS never talked about excluding Muslims
A key point being overlooked by these U.S. officials and 'progressive groups' is that Bhagwat's outreach to Muslims is both political and ideological. Bhagwat has repeatedly emphasized the shared ancestry and cultural foundations linking Hindus and Muslims, unlike what is being claimed by these so-called progressive groups. His "same DNA" framing is meant to underscore that religious differences don't erase a common civilizational lineage.
ALSO READ: Looking for love, listing 'God-fearing': How matrimony sites for Sikkim's Christian Converts turn faith into a selling point
He has also pushed back directly against the notion that a Hindu Rashtra would leave no place for Muslims. During a 2018 lecture series in Delhi on the future of Bharat, he stated that a Hindu Rashtra doesn't mean excluding Muslims, describing Hindutva instead as a framework built on inclusivity and unity amid diversity. A separate report from around the same time quoted him saying that a Hindu Rashtra without Muslims would be inconceivable.
Even so, Bhagwat continues to encounter firm resistance from segments of America's interfaith and political circles. For AHEAD Forum and 135 Hindu American organizations that back the RSS chief, this tension sits at the heart of the controversy. Here is a leader who has publicly advocated for Muslim inclusion within his vision of Hindu Rashtra, yet is still being cast by critics as a figure of exclusion.