Kumar Bahukhandi
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is received on his arrival in New York ahead of his scheduled participation in the Universal Oneness Celebration. His visit has drawn both support and opposition, while the Hindu American Foundation has issued a security advisory urging attendees to remain vigilant ahead of the August 29, 2026 gathering. Photo Credit : PTI
Hindu American Foundation urges vigilance ahead of August 29 gathering as opposition, USCIRF sanctions call and political debate surround RSS chief’s US visit
Key Highlights
- RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is in New York as part of a three-nation international outreach tour.
- Hindu American Foundation issues a community security advisory ahead of the Universal Oneness Celebration.
- HAF urges attendees to remain vigilant, avoid confrontation and report threats to security or law enforcement.
- RSS describes the programme as an interfaith gathering based on dialogue and mutual respect.
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani opposes the event but says the city may lack jurisdiction to cancel a private gathering.
- USCIRF calls for targeted sanctions against RSS members and revocation of Bhagwat’s US visa.
- India has rejected USCIRF’s criticism as biased and lacking credibility.
New York (US): A security advisory has been issued ahead of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat’s high-profile appearance in New York, adding another dimension to an event already surrounded by political opposition, protests and a call from a US religious-freedom commission for sanctions against members of the RSS.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) urged people planning to attend the Universal Oneness Celebration to remain vigilant and maintain situational awareness. It also advised participants to keep interactions civil and avoid confrontations with protesters or people making provocative statements. HAF said activists had attempted to disrupt or cancel the gathering, although the organisation did not cite a specific confirmed security threat.
The August 29 programme is being organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) Forum as part of a gathering involving Hindu American and other community organisations. Organisers describe it as an event centred on unity, civic responsibility and global harmony, with Bhagwat scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
Bhagwat arrived in New York earlier this week on the first leg of an international outreach tour covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom during the RSS’s centenary year.
RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar has sought to position the New York programme as an inclusive engagement rather than a partisan political gathering.
“The Universal Oneness Celebration in New York exemplifies an interfaith gathering where RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat ji will communicate with a diverse, multicultural, and multi-faith audience,” Ambekar said.
He said the programme had been organised around dialogue and mutual respect and represented what the organisation considers the inclusive character of the Bharatiya ethos.
“We invite anyone interested in learning more about the RSS vision and philosophy to participate in these open forums of dialogue,” Ambekar said.
Security advisory comes amid political and religious-freedom row
The security warning comes against the backdrop of growing controversy over Bhagwat’s visit.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly opposed the gathering, describing his objections in ideological terms. At the same time, he acknowledged that the city might not have jurisdiction to cancel a lawful private event. Reuters reported that Mamdani contrasted the RSS with his conception of India as a pluralistic and secular republic, while the RSS rejects allegations that it promotes intolerance and describes itself as a cultural movement.
The controversy intensified after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urged Washington to consider targeted sanctions against RSS members and Indian officials it alleges are responsible for religious-freedom violations. The commission also called for Bhagwat’s visa to be revoked.
USCIRF is an independent bipartisan US federal commission, but its recommendations are not binding on the US administration and do not themselves constitute US government policy.
India has strongly rejected USCIRF’s criticism. The Ministry of External Affairs has accused the commission of repeatedly making what it regards as incorrect and provocative statements about India and questioned its credibility.
Against this backdrop, HAF’s advisory asked attendees to respect the rights of others to protest and express their views while avoiding confrontation.
It advised people who feel threatened to leave the area and contact event security or law enforcement, and urged that threats, vandalism, suspected hate incidents or other crimes be reported to the appropriate authorities.
The debate has therefore placed Bhagwat’s visit at the intersection of several contentious issues — freedom of expression and assembly in the United States, competing perceptions of the RSS, religious-freedom allegations concerning India and increasingly visible political divisions within sections of the Indian-American diaspora.
For the RSS, however, the message it wants associated with Bhagwat’s New York appearance remains one of engagement.
Its stated position is that Bhagwat will address people from different religious and cultural backgrounds and that the forum is intended to encourage dialogue rather than division.
Bhagwat’s New York engagement forms part of the RSS’s wider international outreach during its centenary year, with interactions planned with diaspora communities and local organisations during his visits to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
