On 25th August (Tuesday), Zohran Mamdani, the controversial mayor of New York City, stated that he opposes the scheduled Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) gathering at Madison Square Garden and the presence of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at the event. However, Mamdani said that he is uncertain of the city’s authority to cancel a “private” program.
He trotted out the familiar secularism bogey to take a subtle dig at the country, claiming, “I also stand here as the first Indian American mayor in our city’s history. My mother’s family is all still in India. The vision of India that I was taught by my family and the one that I grew up being very familiar with was of a pluralistic society, of a secular republic, that believed in the belonging of each and every person who was from India.”
However, Mamdani soon revealed his real agenda, turning his attention to the “Hindutva” group and reviving the familiar anti-India rhetoric. He alleged, “It has been incredibly troubling to see the rise of a movement that is predicated on an exclusionary vision of any country, frankly. So, it is one that I find myself in deep opposition to.”
Mamdani further complained, “Not only as an Indian American, but also as the mayor of a city that believes deeply in the belonging of each and every person, no matter their colour, their creed, their religion, their faith, wherever they’re from, I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on canceling a private event.”
VIDEO | On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's event at Madison Square Garden, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says, "… I also stand here as the first Indian American mayor in our city's history. My mother's family is all still in India. The vision of India that I was taught by my… pic.twitter.com/2UbDYj7WHu
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 25, 2026
The RSS chief, who is on a three-nation tour of the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, is set to address a significant event in New York on 29th August. However, the broader global Islamo-leftist network, to which Mamdani belongs and its Khalistani allies have been at the centre of efforts to pressure the government into revoking his visa and cancelling the programme.
Meanwhile, Mamdani has been infamous for his persistent pattern of inflammatory comments directed at Hindus and India. He first attracted attention for his Hinduphobia when the community faced abuses during his rally, and instead of confronting the hate mob, he acted as a passive supporter.
Mamdani also drew a comparison between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, branding him a “war criminal.” These remarks triggered outrage among Indian American leaders, who accused him of inciting hatred and deepening divisions.
Mamdani has persistently attacked PM Modi regarding the Gujarat riots even after the Supreme Court’s clean chit. He even insisted that there are hardly any Muslims left in Gujarat, in a further vicious attack on PM Modi despite this being a complete fabrication. He went so far as to characterise Hindus associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party as “fascists” and reproached fellow New York politicians Jenifer Rajkumar and Kevin Thomas for not denouncing PM Modi.
Mamdani is also a supporter of Umar Khalid, who is a prime accused in the anti-Hindu Delhi riots and has written a letter advocating for his release.
Furthermore, Mamdani has been the subject of enduring allegations regarding antisemitism and his association with Islamists. He chose not to condemn the genocidal phrase “Globalise the Intifada.” He was the first American elected official to assume office, refusing to denounce the slogan. He even destroyed every institutional safeguard designed to protect Jewish communities from the intimidation it creates.
Mamdani invited anti-Israel radical Mahmoud Khalil for an iftar dinner at the mayor’s official house, Gracie Mansion. Khalil, his wife Noor, and their child were welcomed by Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, to break the Ramadan fast.
For Mahmoud Khalil, this past year has been marked by profound hardship—and by profound courage.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 10, 2026
A year ago, Mahmoud was walking home through our city after sharing an iftar with his wife Noor when he was detained by federal agents, flown to Louisiana, and then held in an ICE… pic.twitter.com/6dBtLh0GeT
Mamdani’s mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, has been mentioned in relation to the Epstein files. It was revealed that she attended an afterparty hosted at the residence of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Ugandan scholar, author, and political theorist of Indian descent who compared the Hindus of India to the Hutus of Rwanda, praised Muhammad Ali Jinnah and defended terrorism while referring to suicide bombers as “soldiers.”
