NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has voiced opposition to an upcoming Manhattan event featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, while questioning whether city authorities have the legal power to stop the private gathering. Bhagwat, who heads the Hindu nationalist organisation widely regarded as the ideological parent of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is scheduled to address an event in Manhattan on August 29. Mamdani said he did not support the event but acknowledged that the city might not have jurisdiction to cancel a privately organised gathering. The mayor, who is New York’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor, said his understanding of India was shaped by a vision of the country as a pluralistic and secular republic where people of different backgrounds could belong equally. He said he was deeply concerned by the growth of political movements based on what he described as an exclusionary vision of India. Organisers have described the Manhattan gathering as the “Universal Oneness Celebration”. The event is being promoted as a gathering of Hindu Americans focused on cultural heritage, dialogue and interfaith unity. The organisers, American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, say the programme has support from several Hindu American organisations. However, a number of local groups have criticised the event because of Bhagwat’s participation and allegations surrounding the RSS. The RSS is a highly influential Hindu organisation in India. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has historical ideological links to the group. The organisation has rejected accusations that it promotes intolerance or violence against minorities. It describes itself as a Hindu-centred cultural and civilisational movement and says its objective is to unite Hindus and strengthen the nation. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has previously raised concerns about the RSS and alleged involvement in violence and intolerance against minority communities. The controversy surrounding Bhagwat’s visit comes amid wider international debate over religious freedom and minority rights in India. United Nations bodies and human rights organisations have raised concerns over reported hate speech, citizenship policies, demolitions of properties belonging to Muslims, changes to the constitutional status of occupied Kashmir and laws related to religious conversion. The Indian government has rejected allegations that its policies discriminate against minorities. It maintains that its welfare and development programmes are designed to benefit citizens across religious and social groups.

The Palestinian village of Tel in the northern occupied West Bank should have been celebrating one of its busiest and most cherished times of the year. Residents had spent weeks preparing for the annual fig harvest and a festival expected to attract visitors from across the region. Instead, the village has been left grieving after a deadly confrontation forced organizers to cancel the event and replaced the festive atmosphere with mourning. The violence erupted after an attack involving Israeli settlers last week. The clashes that followed resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians and two Israeli settlers, leaving the community in shock. Black flags now hang where festival decorations were meant to be displayed, while many orchards remain out of reach because of an increased Israeli military presence and ongoing restrictions in the area. Tel village council head Walid Zaidan said the tragedy has deeply affected the community of around 7,000 people. According to him, the village has lost its usual energy and sense of joy after the deaths of four young residents in a single day. He said the emotional impact is visible throughout the village, where families continue to cope with grief and uncertainty. Zaidan said residents had not been seeking confrontation but were trying to protect their homes after repeated attacks by Israeli settlers. He recalled an earlier incident in which the home of a local resident, Sohaib Ramadan, was set on fire. The family managed to escape only moments before the house was completely destroyed. He said many villagers feared another similar attack and went out to defend their neighborhood when violence broke out again. The damage has extended beyond the loss of life. Zaidan said Israeli bulldozers entered farmland and cleared large sections of agricultural land. Initial estimates suggest that around 2,000 dunams, or roughly 500 acres, have been affected. Local officials have been unable to inspect the full extent of the destruction because access to the area remains restricted by Israeli forces and settlers. Residents also claim that a new settlement outpost is being established on the land. At the same time, Israeli forces have carried out arrests and questioned dozens of Palestinians in the village, adding to growing tensions. For the people of Tel, farming is more than an economic activity. Fig trees, olive groves and prickly pear plants have long been central to the village’s identity and way of life. Tel is known throughout the occupied West Bank for producing several varieties of figs, drawing visitors each harvest season to buy fresh fruit and locally made products. Plans for a three day festival featuring figs, dairy products, cheeses and other local goods were abandoned after the violence. Farmers who own nearby livestock and poultry farms have also struggled to reach their animals because roads remain blocked, raising concerns about the welfare of their livestock. Local resident Omar Ishtayeh said the village has depended on agriculture for generations, but increasing restrictions and repeated settler attacks have made farming more difficult. He said orchards that once represented prosperity now reflect the hardships facing local families. With the fig season already underway, many farmers fear the fruit will spoil before they are able to safely return to their land. Palestinian officials argue that the events in Tel are part of a wider rise in settler violence across the occupied West Bank. According to the Palestinian Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission, thousands of attacks targeting Palestinians and their property were recorded during the first half of 2026. These incidents included assaults on civilians, arson attacks, damage to farmland, restrictions on access to agricultural areas and the expansion of settlement outposts. The United Nations considers Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories illegal under international law. Palestinians say the continued expansion of settlements is reducing hopes for the creation of an independent Palestinian state and making everyday life increasingly difficult for communities that rely on their land for survival.