By Anjali Sharma
NEW YORK – American singer Mary Millben and several Indian political leaders on Wednesday lashed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his opposition to an upcoming event featured RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
TMC MP Saugata Roy supported opposition to the programme, while Shiv Sena leader Anand Dubey called resistance to Bhagwat’s foreign visit unwarranted.
Millben accused Mamdani and other critics of acting out of hostility towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
BJP leaders called the mayor’s position divisive, while the Shiv Sena said opposition to Bhagwat’s visit was unwarranted.
Millben wrote on social media “Mamdani and all these socialist nuts are opposing the Madison Square Garden event featuring Mohan Bhagwat because they oppose PM Narendra Modi and the BJP. That’s pretty clear”.
She argued that political criticism would not determine whether the event could proceed at a privately operated venue.
“MSG doesn’t answer to socialist rants. They answer to capitalism. And thus this event will go on because of it,” she said.
Millben challenged Mamdani and his supporters to raise money and organize a separate programme.
“My advice to Mamdani and his choir of socialists, become capitalists, raise money, rent MSG, and host your own rally for all your anti-Modi foolishness,” she said.
The singer also welcomed the programme’s “Oneness” theme and called for a discussion on religious freedom in India.
BJP leader Syed Zafar Islam said Mamdani had no authority to stop the private gathering.
“Neither Mamdani has the right nor can he stop the event from taking place,” Islam said.
“He knows this is out of his jurisdiction. Mamdani’s statement is divisive.”
BJP MP Bhola Singh said those criticized the programme did not understand the RSS or its work.
“The RSS has been continuously engaged in social service and nation-building for a very long time,” Singh said.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC accused Mamdani of practicing appeasement politics and defended the record of RSS-linked service organizations in the United States.
“This appeasement politics and double standards of yours need to be questioned,” she said.
Shiv Sena leader Anand Dubey also objected to Mamdani’s position despite acknowledging political differences with the RSS.
“If Mohan Bhagwat visits the US or any foreign land and faces opposition there, we feel such opposition is unwarranted,” Dubey said.
He argued that Indian political disagreements should not result in the public humiliation of an Indian leader travelling abroad.
TMC MP Saugata Roy offered a contrasting view and said opposition to the programme was understandable in a religiously diverse city.
“New York is a multi-religious city, where RSS’s theory will not work, and this is the reason they might oppose it,” Roy said.
Congress MP Imran Masood questioned the purpose of the event and the message its organizers intended to send internationally.
The reactions followed Mamdani’s statement that he did not support the private event featuring Bhagwat. The mayor also acknowledged that New York City might not have jurisdiction to cancel it.
Bhagwat is scheduled to address the Universal Oneness Celebration on August 29.
The programme, organized by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue Forum, is expected to include cultural performances and faith based speakers, media reported.
