A billboard featuring Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was prominently displayed in Times Square, New York, on Friday. This appearance coincided with Bhagwat’s scheduled address at the ‘Universal Oneness Celebrations’ taking place at Madison Square Garden later that day.
Hindus for Human Rights and allied groups have announced a protest outside Madison Square Garden on Saturday. The Times Square display came amid growing attention around Bhagwat’s New York visit. A row has erupted in New York over Bhagwat’s scheduled address at Madison Square Garden. The controversy has also spilled onto the streets.
Video shared by PTI showed his image prominently displayed at the iconic Manhattan location ahead of the August 29 programme. The programme is scheduled from 2 pm to 5:30 pm local time (11:30 pm to 3 am IST) and includes cultural performances, music and artistic presentations. Ahead of the programme, Bhagwat visited the ISKCON temple at 26 Second Avenue in New York on Friday, where he offered a garland to Srila Prabhupada and participated in a food distribution initiative for homeless people. Gauranga Das, governing body commissioner of ISKCON, said the site was significant as it was where Swami Prabhupada founded the organisation in 1966. More than 200 Hindu American organisations have backed the programme, according to organisers. The group says 61 interfaith and secular organisations have signed an open letter opposing the event.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly opposed the event.
He described the RSS as a movement based on “exclusionary vision”. Mamdani also said that city authorities did not have the legal power to stop a privately organised event.
