Mohan Bhagwat’s event in New York has faced massive protests. Meanwhile, questions are also being raised about the identity of the mysterious host abroad who is covering the expenses for his stay and travel.
आरएसएस प्रमुख भागवत के न्यूयॉर्क कार्यक्रम का तीखा विरोध, खुफिया मेजबानी और फंडिंग पर भी उठे सवाल
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s event in New York City faced fierce opposition. Around 48 organizations representing human rights, various faiths—including Muslim, Sikh, Christian, and Dalit communities—protested against the event held at Madison Square Garden.
Criticizing the RSS ideology, protesters expressed concern regarding minority rights, religious freedom, and communal tensions in India. These organizations openly called for the RSS to be kept out of New York.
According to a PTI report, Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director of the organization ‘Hindus for Human Rights,’ claimed that 61 diverse religious and secular organizations had signed an open letter opposing the Sangh’s event. She stated that many supporters of these groups would attend in person to convey the message that “the RSS and its Hindutva ideology do not represent us.”
When Bhagwat’s event took place on Saturday, numerous organizations were present outside the venue with banners and posters to register their protest.
One such organization, the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC)—along with affiliated community and religious groups—had also announced its opposition to Mohan Bhagwat’s event during a press conference.
Representatives from Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Christian, and Dalit groups, as well as organizations from various other faiths, participated in the protest held under the banner “No Platform for Hate.” These organizations asserted that Bhagwat advocates for a Hindu supremacist ideology and that his organization, the RSS, is “anti-minority.”
Meanwhile, media reports revealed that Mohan Bhagwat stayed at ‘The Pierre,’ a luxury hotel facing Central Park in New York, which is part of the Taj Group. He addressed the event at Madison Square Garden on Saturday amidst protests from Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Sikh organizations demanding that ‘Hindutva’ be kept out of New York.
During the event, however, he spoke eloquently, delivering an impactful message about unity and brotherhood. However, the question remains as to why Bhagwat is visiting the United States. His three-nation tour also includes Canada and the UK. Questions are also being raised about who is bearing the cost of his stay. Is this visit intended for fundraising? Or is it part of an ‘outreach program’ aimed at lobbying members of the US Congress and the administration?
In an interview with ‘The Wire’, author and journalist Salil Tripathi stated that while there is knowledge of Bhagwat meeting with Indian consular staff and heads of business associations, he is personally unaware of any meetings between Bhagwat and lawmakers (members of parliament) or administrative officials.
Tripathi clearly stated that while he supports Bhagwat’s visit to the US—as well as the right of RSS critics to protest it—he wished Bhagwat had been willing to engage in a debate with critics regarding the RSS’s vision and operations. Some critics also argue that if Bhagwat and the Sangh were serious about fostering dialogue among people of different faiths, they would have invited New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for a public conversation.
This is Bhagwat’s first visit since the controversy surrounding lobbying efforts, and some view it as an attempt at damage control. In 2025, Squire Patton Boggs (SPB)—one of Washington D.C.’s largest lobbying firms—emailed historian Audrey Truschke seeking a meeting on behalf of the Sangh. The firm explained that the Sangh had engaged SPB to brief US lawmakers on its mission. The firm had registered to lobby for the RSS under US law and disclosed receiving $330,000 (approximately ₹3 crore) during the first three quarters. When this news surfaced, Sangh spokesperson Sunil Ambekar denied that the RSS had engaged any lobbying firm in the US. A week later, the RSS mouthpiece ‘Organiser’ contradicted Ambekar’s statement, claiming that full details of this outreach campaign had been disclosed in compliance with US laws. The publication later removed that report. The controversy intensified because the filing was made under the ‘Lobbying Disclosure Act’ rather than the ‘Foreign Agents Registration Act’—the latter would have required the public disclosure of details regarding every meeting, email, call, and transaction. Within a few weeks, SPB replaced the Sangh with Vivek Sharma, a pharmaceutical executive from Massachusetts, as its client. Subsequently, the contract was terminated in December 2025.
According to an Al Jazeera report, the primary organizer of Bhagwat’s events in New York is a US-based non-profit group called ‘American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue’ (AHEAD) Forum, which was registered as a non-profit entity in May 2025. Data from the US IRS indicates that the organization’s current directors are Sudesh Agarwal, Naresh Rajananna, and Rasita Vishnuram.
‘Savera,’ an organization opposing the Sangh in the US, stated that Agarwal runs the Cleveland chapter of the ‘Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh’ (HSS) and that Rajananna is also an HSS activist. Vishnuram is a senior fellow at the ‘BlueKraft Foundation,’ a pro-Modi propaganda unit described as one of the most influential entities linked to the Modi government.
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