Hindu American Foundation Issues Security Alert Ahead of Bhagwat's NYC Event

The security advisory was issued by the American non-profit advocacy and educational organisation, founded in 2003 and based in Washington, DC, which focuses on representing the interests of the Hindu American community.

Taking to X, the foundation urged attendees to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings and called for civil interactions during the event.

"COMMUNITY ADVISORY ALERT! HAF is issuing this security alert in advance of the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Stay vigilant, remain situationally aware, and keep interactions civil," the foundation said.

HAF said activists targeting Hindu Americans had attempted to disrupt and cancel the celebration. It urged New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to uphold his duty to protect all New Yorkers, including event attendees, and ensure their safety and civil rights.

The security advisory comes as preparations are being finalised for the major gathering centred on cultural unity and community engagement.

However, the programme has drawn public scrutiny and opposition from various advocacy groups. In response, HAF has pressed local authorities to ensure adequate security and safeguard the safety and civil rights of attendees.

Adding to the controversy surrounding Bhagwat's visit, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a statement on Wednesday alleging that religious freedom was deteriorating in India and calling for possible sanctions against the RSS.

The commission urged the US government to consider targeted sanctions against RSS members and Indian officials it said were complicit in religious freedom violations. It also called for revoking Bhagwat's US visa and making him ineligible for future entry.

USCIRF Vice Chair Cece Heil said the US government had an opportunity to hold India accountable and signal its support for religious freedom.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier strongly condemned USCIRF's call to bar meetings involving the RSS chief during an August 21 briefing, dismissing the commission as biased and lacking credibility.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the institution had made incorrect and provocative statements about India for years and should be ignored because of its alleged agenda and lack of credibility.

Meanwhile, US singer and actress Mary Millben criticised detractors, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, for opposing the upcoming gathering featuring Bhagwat.

The RSS functions as the ideological parent organisation of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Millben argued that the opposition to the Madison Square Garden event was linked to criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.

Millben said the event would proceed because Madison Square Garden was a private venue and suggested that opponents could organise and fund their own rally.

She also welcomed the event's "Oneness" theme and said she hoped it would include meaningful dialogue on religious freedom in India.

Millben's comments followed remarks by Mayor Mamdani on Tuesday that he did not support the planned Madison Square Garden event where Bhagwat is scheduled to address members of the Indian diaspora.

However, Mamdani clarified that municipal authorities may lack the legal authority to cancel the event, describing it as a private gathering scheduled for August 29.

During a press conference, Mamdani said, "I don't support the rally, but I don't know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event."

The Mayor also referred to his Indian-American heritage, noting that his mother's family remains in India.

Mamdani said his family had presented India to him as a pluralistic and secular republic where every person belonged. He said he was deeply opposed to what he described as the rise of an exclusionary movement.

The political debate comes amid Bhagwat's arrival in New York on Tuesday for the first leg of his three-nation global outreach tour covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The tour has been organised at the invitation of overseas local groups as part of the RSS's centenary year celebrations.

RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar said on Wednesday that the 'Universal Oneness Celebration' would be an interfaith gathering where Bhagwat would interact with a diverse, multicultural and multi-faith audience.

Ambekar said the event had been organised in the spirit of open dialogue and mutual respect and would reflect the inclusive nature of the Bharatiya ethos.

In a post on X, Ambekar described the gathering as an interfaith event intended to promote understanding and shared purpose globally.

Organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) forum, Bhagwat's address at Madison Square Garden on Saturday will coincide with the traditional observance of the Hindu festival Raksha Bandhan.

The programme is expected to feature cultural performances and addresses by faith-based speakers, with the event carrying a broader message focused on unity, civic duty and global harmony.