On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani voiced his disapproval of the planned Madison Square Garden event featuring RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, scheduled for August 29. Although he expressed doubts about the city's ability to cancel a private event, Mamdani, the first Indian-American Mayor in New York City history, stated that he opposes the event due to its exclusionary ideology, which contradicts his upbringing and the city's commitment to inclusivity. Several interfaith and civil rights organizations, including Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council, and the Interfaith Centre of New York, staged a press conference outside City Hall to oppose Bhagwat's appearance at Madison Square Garden and urge the venue to cancel the event. The Universal Oneness Celebration, hosting Bhagwat, announced his attendance in New York on August 29, citing a message promoting unity and mutual respect among all people. Bhagwat's US visit is part of a broader tour that also includes Canada and the UK as part of the RSS centenary-year global outreach program. The event has drawn both support and protests ahead of the Madison Square Garden gathering.