New York: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has delivered a strong message on religious coexistence in India, saying that a person cannot claim to be a Hindu while believing that Muslims should be driven out of the country.

Addressing a large gathering at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Bhagwat was asked about the RSS’s concept of a “Hindu Rashtra” and what it would mean for India’s Muslim population.

Responding to the question, Bhagwat said that excluding Muslims was contrary to the essence of Hindutva.

“If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu,” he said, stressing that Hindu philosophy accepts multiple religious paths and recognises the dignity of every human being.

Bhagwat was speaking at a programme titled “Universal Oneness”, organised during his visit to the United States as the RSS marks its centenary year. The event brought together members of the Indian-American community and sought to highlight the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the idea that the world is one family.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat during New York address

“If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu. If you call yourself Hindu, you must believe all paths are leading to the same goal”

“There is no difference btwn human beings” https://t.co/rwfmqFEwkp pic.twitter.com/pvQ62C9SsD

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 29, 2026

Organisers said the event drew significant interest, with registrations closing after capacity was reached and participants expected from several US states and cities.

‘Diversity Is a Decoration of Unity’

Bhagwat argued that diversity should not be viewed as a source of conflict. Instead, he described it as a manifestation of an underlying unity.

Invoking the famous teaching of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa—“Joto Mat, Toto Path”, or “as many faiths, so many paths”—he said different religions may follow different routes while ultimately seeking the same truth.

He linked the idea to the broader Hindu philosophical emphasis on coexistence, suggesting that differences in faith should not become grounds for hostility or social division.

Recalling RSS Relief Work

Bhagwat also referred to the RSS response to the 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision in Haryana, claiming that RSS volunteers assisted victims and their families without distinguishing between Hindus and Muslims.

“We never thought at that time that these are Muslims,” he said, using the episode to underline his argument that humanitarian responsibility should transcend religious identity.

He further warned against allowing political calculations and narrow interests to determine social relationships. According to Bhagwat, lasting harmony cannot be built solely through electoral politics or the pursuit of political power; society must instead place collective welfare above immediate interests.

Visit Draws Criticism

Bhagwat’s New York appearance has also attracted criticism. His visit and the RSS ideology have faced opposition from sections of civil-rights and interfaith groups, while New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has previously criticised the RSS as exclusionary.

Organisers of the Madison Square Garden programme, however, presented the event as a platform for dialogue, coexistence and the Indian ideal of universal brotherhood.

Bhagwat’s remarks put the debate over Hindu identity, Hindutva and the place of Muslims in India firmly at the centre of his high-profile US visit. His message was unequivocal: opposition to the presence of Muslims in India, he argued, is incompatible with what he considers the core principles of Hindu thought.