Pastors, imams say they were duped into RSS event

A pastor and an imam told Al Jazeera they were misled about the organisers of a high-profile “Hindu unity” event in New York last month, which prominently featured the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its chief Mohan Bhagwat. Both faith leaders say they accepted invitations after being told the gathering was an interfaith dialogue hosted by mainstream Hindu groups, not a platform for the RSS—a Hindu nationalist organisation linked to India’s ruling party and accused of marginalising Muslims and other minorities.

The controversy erupted days after the September 22 event at Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn, when organisers shared a stage with Bhagwat for a speech that praised “cultural unity” while downplaying caste and religious divisions. Critics say the RSS’s presence at such a forum in the U.S. risks legitimising its ideology abroad. The two faith leaders—one Christian, one Muslim—told Al Jazeera they only discovered the RSS connection after receiving the final programme. Their accounts, corroborated by event footage and attendee lists, raise questions about transparency in diaspora outreach by Hindu nationalist groups.

The organisers, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), described the event as a celebration of Indian heritage and unity. But critics argue the VHPA has historical ties to the RSS, which was founded in 1925 and promotes the idea of India as a Hindu nation. In recent years, the RSS and its affiliates have faced growing scrutiny in the U.S. over alleged influence campaigns and funding linked to Hindu nationalist causes.

Faith leaders and activists are now calling for clearer disclosure in such events, while Indian-American advocacy groups say the backlash reflects broader tensions over identity politics. The New York event’s organisers have not responded to requests for comment on whether they misled attendees. What happens next could hinge on whether more faith leaders come forward with similar concerns—or whether the controversy prompts a shift in how diaspora Hindu events are framed and attended in the West.