RSS leader's US visit condemned as 'diplomatic tour' for Hindu nationalism

An event in New York City featuring a prominent Hindu nationalist figure is being promoted as a message of unity, with the theme that 'the world is one family.' However, many religious groups, advocacy organizations, and groups representing lower-caste Indians say they are unconvinced, fearing Saturday's rally at Madison Square Garden is a high-profile attempt to gloss over a history of discrimination and violence.

At the center of the controversy is the 'Universal Oneness Celebration,' organized by the nonprofit American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, which aims to promote 'greater peace and harmony.' Yet one of the key speakers is Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a paramilitary organization accused of backing discriminatory policies and inciting violence against minorities, including Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs in India.

Protests are planned outside Madison Square Garden to oppose Bhagwat's appearance. Safa Ahmed, a Muslim community organizer from North Carolina who traveled to New York to join the demonstration, told Al Jazeera she is skeptical of the organizers' claims about treating the world as 'one family.' 'They may talk about unity, but that contradicts the bloody reality that minorities face in India,' she said.

Diaspora outreach

Activists argue Hindu nationalist groups are seeking to expand their influence in the United States, home to roughly 2.5 million Hindus. To do so, they deploy various fronts to soften the RSS's image, such as organizing Hindu cultural festivals and campaigns highlighting discrimination against Hindus.

Sravya Tadepalli, deputy executive director of Hindus for Human Rights, views Saturday's rally as part of that trend. Her organization opposes the event. 'This is a diplomatic tour to improve the public image of the RSS, a fascist paramilitary organization that has been involved in decades of communal violence against religious minorities in South Asia,' Tadepalli said. 'The groups behind it have promoted the event as a broad appeal to Hindu history with a focus on inclusiveness, while in reality the RSS advocates the opposite.'

Critics also point out that Hindu nationalists have sought to forge ties with the global far-right, emphasizing shared beliefs about threats from Islam and secular elites. The RSS is considered the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has governed India since 2014 and is seeking to reshape the country along Hindu nationalist lines. At the 2024 National Conservatism Conference in Washington, DC, BJP vice president Ram Madhav said Western conservatives should look to India as an example of how to defeat what he called the 'left-liberal-Marxist-Islamist alliance.'

The Modi model

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who rose through RSS ranks before becoming BJP leader, has pursued Hindu nationalism throughout his tenure. Like Bhagwat, he has traveled to the US to carry his message to overseas supporters. In September 2019, Modi addressed a crowd of 50,000 at a 'Howdy, Modi!' rally in Texas, one of the largest such events in US history, even sharing the stage with then-President Donald Trump.

But such events have also been contentious. Before becoming prime minister in 2014, Modi was barred from entering the US over his role in the 2002 massacre of Muslims in Gujarat state, where he was accused of turning a blind eye to the killings or even supporting them. Despite this, Modi remains highly popular in India, consistently ranking among the most admired leaders globally. A survey this month by India Today magazine found he is still the top choice for prime minister in India, though approval ratings have dipped.

Divided diaspora

Campaigns to rehabilitate the RSS's image abroad have seen limited success. A 2024 survey found that while Modi enjoys near-unanimous support among Indian Americans as prime minister, 70% of respondents acknowledged that his rhetoric increasingly poses a threat to minorities in India.

Bhagwat's planned appearance at Madison Square Garden has also sparked debate over his rhetoric and leadership. In a statement on Wednesday, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal initiative, called for revoking Bhagwat's visa, accusing him of 'complicity in violations of religious freedom.' USCIRF chair Asif Mahmood urged the US to impose targeted sanctions. New York City Council member Zohran Mamdani also voiced opposition to the RSS's message when asked about Bhagwat's speech, saying he 'does not support the rally' and views the rise of a movement based on an exclusionary vision as 'extremely concerning.'

Ahmed, the community organizer from North Carolina, said the backlash against Saturday's event reflects a growing coalition within the Indian diaspora, including voices from Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and lower-caste communities. She predicted the event will backfire. 'I am very confident that Bhagwat will be strongly rejected, showing he is not welcome,' she said.