Overview
- Mohan Bhagwat, leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, spoke to about 5,000 people at a Madison Square Garden event promoted as a ‘One World One Humanity’ or oneness celebration.
- Two U.S. faith leaders who appeared at the program say organizers did not tell them Bhagwat or the RSS would be the event’s central guest and that they felt deceived by how the gathering was presented.
- Organizers — including American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, the World Council of Religious Leaders, and Yoga International USA — described the program to some invitees as an interfaith or unity event while critics point to ties between AHEAD and the RSS centenary outreach.
- The visit drew street protests, a public denunciation from New York officials, and calls from religious‑freedom watchdogs for possible sanctions or visa review, increasing pressure on U.S. institutions to investigate the trip.
- Campaigns in the UK seek to block venues for Bhagwat’s scheduled London engagements and the controversy could prompt diaspora groups, funders, and civic bodies to rethink participation with organizations linked to the RSS.