00:00A mega RSS outreach event that is set to take place in New York today.
00:04RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to address the Universal Oneness Celebration
00:08as part of the organization's centenary year global outreach.
00:12Ahead of the event, Bhagwat visited the Iskand Temple in New York
00:15where he met volunteers and attended a food distribution program.
00:20Speaking at the temple, the RSS chief referred to the conflicts and divisions facing the world,
00:24saying consciousness is the uniting factor
00:26and stressing the need to recognize oneness despite diversity.
00:30Today's event is centered around the message of Vasudev Kutumbakam.
00:34The world is one family, with organizers pitching it as a celebration of unity, mutual respect and harmony.
00:41More than 200 Hindu-American organizations are participating
00:46about the event that comes against the backdrop of a political controversy
00:49triggered by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
00:52Mamdani said that he does not support the event and accused the RSS of representing an exclusionary vision
01:00even as he acknowledged that the city may not have the jurisdiction to cancel a private program.
01:08We're now being joined by Pavani Mithal from New York.
01:11My first question to you, Pavani.
01:12Do give us details about today's event and who all will be attending it.
01:17The massive event right here in New York City.
01:21The event is called Universal Oneness Celebrations
01:24and it is being organized by a group called AHEAD,
01:27that is American Lindus for Engagement and Dialogue.
01:31It is going to be at the Madison Square Garden.
01:35It is a massive, globally known arena and about 5,000 Indian Americans are expected to attend.
01:43Many of them will be from the New York, New Jersey area,
01:47but organizers say they are organizing transports of people from around the country,
01:52along the coast and the Midwest will also be able to attend this event.
01:57Now, this event is part of a larger global outreach program by the RSS
02:03and is the first leg in a 17-day world tour that coincides with the RSS at Tamil.
02:10The goal here is to engage with the Indian diaspora here in the US
02:16and then in Canada and later in England.
02:21Now, Mohan Bhagwak has already, you know, hosted some private events
02:25and there are two private events on his agenda, including the business leaders.
02:31And at the main event, which is at MSG,
02:35there is expected to be a lot of celebration around Indian culture.
02:38So we are expecting performances, dance and music,
02:42and of course, Mohan Bhagwat will be speaking there.
02:45His goal, per the RSS, is to deepen ties with the Indian community, Obhaka,
02:50but also to alter the image of the RSS as an organization that believes in oneness,
02:58that believes in horticulturalism,
02:59and change the image that many people have over here of the RSS,
03:03which is that of an anti-minority Hindu first organization.
03:08So that is going to be on his agenda during his speech.
03:13And my other question, how has Mamdani's opposition to the event been received?
03:18Have there been any tension?
03:20Has there been any tension over the RSS chief's visit in connection to that?
03:27So the response to this event has been quite polarizing
03:31because 5,000 people are expected to attend in person.
03:35That is quite a sizable number.
03:37And then there are organizations that have lent their support to the RSS,
03:42to the message and to the agenda of this event.
03:45On the other hand, there are multiple organizations
03:48that have voiced their concerns and criticized the RSS.
03:52Groups have returned to Secretary of State Marco Mibio,
03:56saying the U.S. should revoke Mohan Bhagwat's visa,
04:01Zohran Mamdani, who is New York's mayor,
04:03and the first Indian-American mayor of the city,
04:05and quite a rising star in the overall American political landscape,
04:10has criticized the RSS and this event,
04:12calling the organization exclusionary.
04:15He has also conceded that as mayor,
04:18he does not have the power to cancel this event,
04:21but he has vocally opposed it.
04:23Multiple other organizations have joined in.
04:26In fact, earlier this week,
04:27there were organizations that demonstrated right here in New York,
04:33showing their opposition to this event.
04:35And we are expecting some protests,
04:37possibly outside the event,
04:40which is going to be held Saturday afternoon,
04:44New York time, which is late night,
04:46on Sunday for April.
04:49Also help us understand if organizers have spoken out
04:52on all the criticism and the controversy over Bhagwat's visit.
04:59So the organization that is behind this event called AHEAD,
05:03which is American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogues,
05:05hasn't directly answered to these criticisms in the press or publicly.
05:11They have indirectly continued to hold on social media and otherwise,
05:16that this is an event which is about reality.
05:19It is also being held on the day of Rapsha Bandhat.
05:23So they say that this event actually builds on the spirit of this festival,
05:27which is harmony, which is community and bonds between,
05:31well, rather a sister,
05:32but also between people in the diaspora.
05:35The other thing to note is that the organization has said that it has said
05:42that its account on social media, on X, which is formerly Twitter,
05:47was briefly suspended.
05:48They have publicly blamed people opposing this event
05:52as people behind the suspension.
05:54They now say that this account on X is up and running
05:58and that they believe that this event is going to promote the spirit of immunity
06:04and of India's slogan or Basudev.
06:09All right.
06:09Thank you for joining us and getting us those details.
06:11Of course, that event that is to happen today.
