Kathmandu— Mohan Bhagwat, the leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is scheduled to speak at a rally in New York City on Saturday that has drawn criticism from faith groups, advocacy organizations, and marginalized-caste communities who accuse the RSS of promoting discrimination and violence against minorities in India. The event, titled “Universal Oneness Celebration,” is hosted by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue and framed as an effort to promote peace and harmony; however, opponents argue it’s a calculated attempt to improve the public image of a controversial organization with a history of communal conflict. Protests are planned outside Madison Square Garden as Bhagwat seeks to expand the RSS's influence among the Indian diaspora in the United States.

Outreach and Accusations

Advocates claim Hindu nationalist groups are actively working to broaden their reach within the US, home to approximately 2.5 million Hindus. They’ve employed strategies such as celebrating Hindu culture and highlighting perceived anti-Hindu discrimination in an effort to soften the image of the RSS. Sravya Tadepalli, deputy executive director of Hindus for Human Rights, described Saturday's rally as a “goodwill tour” intended to rehabilitate the RSS’s reputation as a “fascist paramilitary organization that has engaged in decades of communal violence.” Critics also point to efforts by Hindu nationalists to forge connections with far-right groups globally, based on shared concerns about Islam and secular ideologies.

Links to Indian Politics

The RSS is widely regarded as the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has governed India since 2014 and pursued a Hindu nationalist agenda. Narendra Modi, the current Prime Minister of India, began his political career as an RSS member before leading the BJP. He has also actively engaged with overseas supporters in the US, notably addressing a crowd of 50,000 at a “Howdy, Modi!” rally in Texas in 2019, where he was joined on stage by then-US President Donald Trump. Prior to becoming prime minister in 2014, Modi had been banned from entering the US due to his role during the 2002 Gujarat massacre of Muslim residents.

Growing Diaspora Opposition

Despite outreach efforts, support for the RSS within the Indian diaspora remains divided. A recent survey revealed that while a majority of Indian Americans approve of Modi’s performance as prime minister, 70 percent acknowledge his rhetoric exemplifies a growing threat to minorities in India. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called for Bhagwat’s visa to be revoked, citing his complicity in religious freedom violations. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also voiced opposition to the RSS's exclusionary ideology, stating he does not support the rally.

Coalition of Critics

Safa Ahmed, a Muslim community organizer from North Carolina traveling to protest Bhagwat’s appearance, believes a growing coalition within the Indian diaspora—comprising Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and marginalized-caste voices—is emerging in opposition to Modi and the RSS. “There is a vocal minority in the diaspora and a new, emerging majority who don’t believe in the politics of Modi and the RSS and who don’t want to see them gain traction here,” Ahmed said. She anticipates that Saturday's event will be met with strong rejection.

Protests are expected at Madison Square Garden on Saturday as Bhagwat addresses supporters, and organizers anticipate a significant turnout from those opposing his ideology.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.