X suspends account promoting visit of Mohan Bhagwat to US: Read how leftists and Islamist outfits opposed the RSS chief

Mohan Bhagwat
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat (Image via NDTV)

American Hindu organisation American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD), which is organising RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s upcoming event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, has seen its X account handle suspended ahead of the programme. The suspension comes at a time when Bhagwat’s visit to the United States has triggered a strong campaign by several groups and individuals seeking to oppose his programme and press US authorities to take action against him.

The event is scheduled to be held at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, 29th August. Madison Square Garden, with Bhagwat expected to address the gathering as part of his wider three-nation tour covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Against this backdrop, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) issued a community security advisory, asking people attending the event to remain alert and maintain calm.

“Stay vigilant, remain situationally aware, and keep interactions civil,” HAF said in a post on X. It said activists targeting Hindu Americans had tried to disrupt and cancel the celebration and also called on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to ensure the safety of those attending.

Mamdani himself has publicly said that he does not support the event, though he acknowledged that the city may not have the authority to cancel a private programme.

“I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event,” he told reporters.

Here is how an entire ecosystem is working on it

The suspension of AHEAD’s X handle has come against the backdrop of a wider campaign against Bhagwat’s international tour. From political leaders and activist groups to organisations seeking action against the RSS, different groups have stepped up pressure in the US and Canada.

Mamdani opposes the New York event

Mamdani, who has described himself as the first Indian-American mayor in New York City’s history, spoke about his family’s links to India while outlining his opposition to the RSS event.

He said the India he grew up hearing about was a pluralistic and secular republic where every person belonged. However, he then turned his criticism towards what he described as the rise of an exclusionary “Hindutva” movement.

Mamdani said he was deeply opposed to such a vision and repeated that, while he did not support the Madison Square Garden gathering, he was unsure whether the city could legally stop a private event.

Bhagwat’s US visit is part of a wider three-nation tour covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom during the RSS’s centenary year. Opposition to the visit has come from a network of Islamist, Khalistani and liberal groups, with some pushing for his visa to be revoked and the New York programme to be cancelled.

USCIRF joins calls for action against Bhagwat and RSS

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has also called on the US government to consider targeted sanctions against RSS members and Indian officials whom it says are linked to religious freedom violations.

The commission has asked the US government to consider revoking Bhagwat’s visa and making him ineligible for future entry into the United States.

USCIRF, chaired by Pakistani-American Asif Mahmood, has also pushed for India to be designated a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). In its 2026 report, the body called for sanctions against the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and the RSS.

Other USCIRF members, including Commissioner Gene Mills, have backed calls against RSS leaders and people connected with the organisation.

India, however, has repeatedly rejected USCIRF’s findings. During an 21st August press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the commission as a biased institution that had made incorrect and provocative statements about India and lacked credibility.

IAMC and Hindus for Human Rights join campaign

The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) have also stepped up their campaign against Bhagwat’s US visit.

HfHR promoted an IAMC online petition asking US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to revoke Bhagwat’s visa. The petition argues that allowing him to enter the United States would send the wrong message about America’s commitment to religious freedom and the safety of minority communities.

The groups have also cited USCIRF reports while opposing Bhagwat’s appearance at the New York event organised by AHEAD.

Canadian MPs seek to block Bhagwat’s visit

The opposition has not been limited to the United States. Two Canadian Members of Parliament have written to the federal government asking it to prevent Bhagwat from entering Canada and to ban the RSS.

Bhagwat is scheduled to visit Canada from August 31 to September 1 as part of his global outreach tour. In their letter to Canada’s ministers handling public safety, immigration and foreign affairs, the MPs asked the government to declare him inadmissible, claiming that his visit could create social disorder and pose a danger to Canadians.

They also referred to what they described as the RSS’s influence and raised concerns regarding Muslim, Sikh, Dalit and other minority communities. The lawmakers further cited UN human rights experts who had called for Sikh communities in Canada to be protected from violent threats by Hindutva extremist groups.

The MPs, who belong to the left-liberal political spectrum, have faced criticism for what opponents describe as their close alignment with pro-Khalistani supporters and separatist interests.

With the Universal Oneness Celebration approaching, the suspension of AHEAD’s X handle has added another dimension to the growing controversy surrounding Bhagwat’s visit. From political opposition and online petitions to calls for visa cancellation and sanctions, multiple groups and institutions are now working to challenge the RSS chief’s international outreach programme.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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