US singer Mary Millben has hit back at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his opposition to the planned Madison Square Garden event featuring RSS Sarsangchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat on August 29, accusing the mayor and other critics of opposing the event because of their opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
Mamdani had said he did not support the rally but questioned whether New York City had the legal jurisdiction to cancel a private event. He also described the RSS’s vision as an “exclusionary” one, contrasting it with the pluralistic and secular India he said he had learnt about through his family.
Reacting in a post on X on August 26, Millben said: “Mamdani and all these socialist nuts are opposing the Madison Square Garden (MSG) event featuring Mohan Bhagwat because they oppose PM @narendramodi and the @BJP4India. That’s pretty clear.”
She then criticised the socialist ideology of the event’s opponents, saying, “MSG doesn’t answer to socialist rants. They answer to capitalism. And thus this event will go on because of it.” Millben further advised Mamdani and his “choir of socialists” to “become capitalists, raise money, rent MSG, and host your own rally” for their opposition to Modi.
Mamdani and all these socialist nuts are opposing the Madison Square Garden (MSG) event featuring Mohan Bhagwat because they oppose PM @narendramodi and the @BJP4India. That’s pretty clear. Given these nuts subscribe to the ideology of socialism, they don’t understand capitalism.… pic.twitter.com/RFIK4HKoDW
— Mary Millben (@MaryMillben) August 26, 2026
Millben also backed the theme of the gathering, saying she liked the title “Oneness” and that “We are ONE family”. She added that she hoped the rally would include meaningful dialogue on religious freedom in India.
Dr Mohan Bhagwat’s August 29 event
Dr Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to address around 5,000 members of the Indian-American community at Madison Square Garden on August 29 as part of his international RSS tour, which began on August 25, 2026, covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The gathering, titled the “Universal Oneness Celebration”, is being organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD Forum) as part of the RSS centenary-year celebrations. Organisers have described the event as a gathering centred on shared heritage, unity and interfaith dialogue.
The event is expected to bring together members of the Hindu-American community, including representatives of temples, yoga groups and cultural organisations. It is also linked to the observance of Raksha Bandhan, with organisers planning cultural performances and addresses centred on unity, civic responsibility and global harmony.
AHEAD Forum welcomed Dr Mohan Bhagwat ahead of the programme, saying, “The journey toward Universal Oneness begins.” Following the Madison Square Garden event, Bhagwat is scheduled to attend two private engagements in New York before continuing his overseas tour.
