X suspended account of organizers of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s event in New York | Today’s news
Social media platform X has suspended the account of the American Hindu Forum for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD), organizers of an upcoming event in New York featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat.
X Suspends NYC RSS Event Organizers Account
The event, titled ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’, is scheduled to be held at Madison Square Garden on August 29 and Bhagwat will be the headliner.
Bhagwat is currently in the United States as part of a three-country field tour that includes the US, Canada and the UK.
According to an ANI report, AHEAD forum appealed to X to restore her suspended account.
About AHEAD
Registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, AHEAD serves as one of over 200 supporters supporting New York City’s multicultural and interfaith celebration through the @Aheadforum1 hashtag.
This event is to promote peace, social harmony, mutual understanding and respect across religions and communities.
Content shared through the suspended X organization account focused on these themes and encouraged the participation and support of various community and faith leaders.
AHEAD reportedly believes the suspension may be flawed and says its communications have consistently promoted universal peace, unity, harmony and constructive interfaith and intercultural dialogue, consistent with the platform’s policies.
The reason for the suspension remains unknown.
Read also | Mamdani on Bhagwat’s MSG event: ‘I don’t support rally’
Controversy surrounding the RSS event in New York
Ahead of the event, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) issued an official advisory urging participants to remain vigilant, remain situational, and keep communications civil.
The Washington, DC-based advocacy organization also reportedly called on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to uphold his sworn duty to protect all New Yorkers and guarantee security in the event of any attempted disruptions during the event.
What did Mayor Mamdani say?
This comes after Mamdani’s remarks when he said he did not support the planned Madison Square Garden event.
Singer and actress Mary Millben strongly criticized the opponents, including Mayor Mamdani, for opposing the RSS event. Claiming that the opposition stems from hostility towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Millben advocated the choice of seat on capitalist principles and praised the event’s theme of “Unity”.
Read also | America’s religious freedom watchdog pushes for sanctions on the RSS ahead of Bhagwat’s trip to New York
Citing his heritage as the first Indian American, Mayor Mamdani expressed deep opposition to what he called the exclusionary movement. However, he clarified that municipal authorities do not have a legal mandate to ban gatherings.
He said, “I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction over canceling a private event.”
