NEW YORK (Diya TV) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has voiced opposition to an upcoming Madison Square Garden event featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat. However, Mamdani also said the city may not have the legal authority to stop a privately organized gathering.

“I don’t support the rally,” Mamdani said Tuesday at a news conference. “But I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event.”

The event, called the “Universal Oneness Celebration,” will take place Saturday, Aug. 29, at Madison Square Garden. Bhagwat will deliver the keynote address. The American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue Forum organized the gathering during the RSS centenary year.

Organizers expect thousands of people from the Indian-American community to attend. They describe the event as a celebration of Raksha Bandhan. They also say it will promote unity, civic responsibility and global harmony.

The event’s theme, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” means “The World Is One Family.” More than 135 Hindu American organizations are taking part. The program will also feature religious speakers and cultural performances.

Mamdani said his opposition comes from his views about India and his family background. He noted that he is the first Indian American mayor in New York City history. He also said his mother’s family remains in India.

Mamdani said his family taught him to view India as a pluralistic and secular republic. He said that vision included a place for people from different communities, religions and backgrounds.

He called it “incredibly troubling” to see the rise of a movement that he described as promoting an exclusionary vision. As a result, Mamdani said he stands in “deep opposition” to that movement.

The mayor also connected his concerns about the RSS to New York City’s diverse population. He said the city should protect a sense of belonging for people regardless of their color, faith, religion, or country of origin.

The RSS, a Hindu nationalist organization, marks 100 years of activity this year. Bhagwat has traveled to the United States as part of a broader outreach effort. His tour also includes Canada and the United Kingdom.

The Madison Square Garden event has drawn criticism from several U.S. civil rights, interfaith and community organizations. Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council and the Interfaith Center of New York have joined a campaign against the gathering.

Those groups have urged Madison Square Garden to cancel Bhagwat’s appearance. Meanwhile, Mamdani has questioned whether New York City has jurisdiction over the privately organized event.

The controversy has also reached the federal government. According to the Indian American Muslim Council, more than 1,000 people have contacted Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They have asked the State Department to deny or revoke Bhagwat’s visa.

Still, the event remains scheduled for Saturday. Organizers continue to present it as a gathering focused on Hindu American community engagement and global harmony.