Mohan Bhagwat, leader of RSS in India, is speaking on "universal oneness" at an upcoming private event at Madison Square Garden in New York. Safa Ahmed, board member with Indian American Muslim Council, plans to join others in protesting the event. She tells Context Corner why.NEW YORK / DALLAS-FORT WORTH — Mohan Bhagwat’s U.S. visit is drawing sharply different reactions across Indian-American communities, with protests organizing in New York and supporters and critics debating what the visit represents in places such as North Texas.
Speaking with Context Corner’s Sam Moore from New York, Safa Ahmed of the Indian American Muslim Councilsaid she plans to protest Bhagwat’s visit.
“I stand with humanity and justice for all,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed said her opposition is rooted in concerns about human rights, religious freedom and the treatment of minorities in India.
Bhagwat leads the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS, one of India’s most influential Hindu nationalist organizations. Supporters describe the RSS as a cultural and volunteer movement focused on Hindu society, service and national renewal. Critics argue that its ideology has contributed to an increasingly hostile environment for Muslims, Christians and other minorities in India.
The debate surrounding Bhagwat’s visit has extended well beyond New York.
Within the DFW Indian community, supporters and critics have been discussing the visit and the broader controversy surrounding the RSS. Some see Bhagwat as an important cultural and national figure whose organization is frequently misunderstood. Others view his appearance as an opportunity to raise concerns about Hindu nationalism, religious freedom and minority rights.
Those competing perspectives reflect a larger divide within the Indian diaspora over the direction of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the growing influence of the RSS.
Ahmed told Context Corner that her decision to protest is not simply about one religious community.
Her message, she said, is about standing against injustice regardless of who is affected.
The controversy also underscores an important distinction: criticism of the RSS or Bhagwat is not the same as criticism of Hinduism or Hindu Americans. At the same time, supporters of Bhagwat argue that the RSS is often unfairly portrayed and deserves the opportunity to present its own message directly to American audiences.
That debate is now playing out in the United States.
And as Bhagwat’s visit continues, Indian-American communities from New York to Dallas-Fort Worth are having their own conversations about what his presence represents.
Watch Context Corner’s Sam Moore speak with Safa Ahmed about why she plans to protest Mohan Bhagwat’s visit and what she believes is at stake.