Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Cleric Criticizes Mamdani’s Opposition to RSS Chief’s Event
A Muslim cleric in India criticized New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani over an upcoming RSS event.
Mamdani said he did not support the rally.
However, he was unsure whether the city could cancel a private event.
The cleric said people should not boycott someone else’s personal programme.
He said different people can have different opinions.
He also discussed a separate disagreement in Malegaon, India.
Officials there displayed a picture of Tipu Sultan in a municipal office.
The cleric said the display was not a crime and praised it as a brave decision.
Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi criticized New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s remarks about an upcoming RSS event.
Mamdani said he did not support the rally but was unsure whether New York had authority to cancel a private event.
The cleric said boycotting a personal programme is morally wrong and unsupported by law.
He said personal events, including those involving the RSS, should not be opposed because people hold differing views.
Shahabuddin also defended Malegaon officials for displaying Tipu Sultan’s picture, calling it a tribute to a figure who fought the British.
- Who
- Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi criticized New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani; the event is associated with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
- What
- The cleric objected to opposition or a boycott of Bhagwat’s personal programme and defended a Tipu Sultan display in Malegaon.
- When
- The cleric made the remarks on Wednesday; the RSS event is described as upcoming.
- Where
- The event discussion concerns New York City, while the Tipu Sultan controversy concerns Malegaon, Maharashtra, India.
- Why
- The cleric said boycotting a personal event is morally wrong and not supported by law, and said Tipu Sultan’s display was not a crime.
Opposition to the event
Defense of the event
Whether the rally should be supported
Opposition to the event
Zohran Mamdani said he did not support the RSS rally, while questioning whether New York had legal authority to cancel a private event.
Defense of the event
Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi said opposing or boycotting the personal programme was morally wrong and should not be done.
Role of differing viewpoints
Opposition to the event
Mamdani’s stated lack of support reflects his opposition to the rally, although the article does not give further reasons.
Defense of the event
Shahabuddin said every person has a viewpoint and should be allowed to plan and conduct personal programmes accordingly.
Tipu Sultan display in Malegaon
Opposition to the event
The article refers to a controversy over the display but does not provide the critics’ specific arguments.
Defense of the event
Shahabuddin said displaying Tipu Sultan’s picture was not a crime and praised Malegaon’s municipal corporation for doing so.
- Speaker
- Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat
- Mayor’s position
- Zohran Mamdani said he did not support the rally but was unsure whether the city had jurisdiction to cancel a private event.
- Event
- An upcoming personal programme associated with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
- Cleric’s view
- Boycotting or opposing a personal programme is not morally right, according to Shahabuddin.
- Separate controversy
- Malegaon’s deputy mayor displayed a picture of Tipu Sultan in the municipal office.
- Malegaon description
- Shahabuddin described Malegaon as a city where Urdu is prominently used on signs, shops, roads and public locations.