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Religious leaders say they were misled about Hindu unity event in New York

A Christian pastor and a Muslim imam said they were misled into attending a New York event centered on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu nationalist organization.

By Middle East Affairs
September 7, 2026
An elderly man with gray hair and mustache wearing a navy and salmon-colored jacket speaks at a microphone at a podium, with another man in formal business attire standing beside him.
A speaker addresses the audience at an event while a staff member stands nearby. Religious leaders later claimed they were misled about the nature of the gathering. (Al Jazeera English)
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A Christian pastor and a Muslim imam said they were misled into attending a New York event last month that centered on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization led by Mohan Bhagwat. The two religious leaders said they had been unaware of the RSS connection when they agreed to participate in what was described to them as a "Hindu unity" gathering. They accused organizers of deception in securing their attendance.

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Religious leaders say they were misled about Hindu unity event in New York | Middle East Affairs