RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to address New York rally on August 30
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Mohan Bhagwat, leader of the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is scheduled to speak at the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York on August 30. Faith groups, advocacy organisations, and unprivileged-caste organisations plan protests outside the venue, denouncing the event as a whitewash of the RSS's record of discrimination and violence.
Key Facts
- The Universal Oneness Celebration is hosted by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, a nonprofit that says it advances peace and harmony.
- Mohan Bhagwat leads the RSS, a Hindu paramilitary organisation accused of discriminatory policies and violence against Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs.
- Protests are expected outside Madison Square Garden on August 30 to denounce Bhagwat's appearance.
- Roughly 2.5 million Hindus live in the United States, a community Hindu nationalist groups are working to influence.
The Rally
The Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden features Mohan Bhagwat as a keynote speaker. The event is hosted by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, a nonprofit that promotes peace and harmony. Organisers frame the rally as a message that the world is one family.
Opposition
Faith groups, advocacy organisations, and unprivileged-caste organisations say the event whitewashes the RSS's record of discrimination and violence. Safa Ahmed, a Muslim community organiser from North Carolina, said the RSS has normalised mob violence against Muslims and attacks on Muslim men in relationships with Hindu women. Sravya Tadepalli, deputy executive director of Hindus for Human Rights, called the rally a goodwill tour for a fascist paramilitary organisation. Protesters plan to gather outside Madison Square Garden on August 30.
Overseas Outreach
Hindu nationalist groups are working to expand influence among the roughly 2.5 million Hindus in the United States. They use cultural celebrations and campaigns highlighting anti-Hindu discrimination to soften the RSS's image. Critics say Hindu nationalists have also cultivated links with the global far-right, emphasising shared beliefs about threats from Islam and secular elites.
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RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to address New York rally on August 30
