Mary Millben Defends Mohan Bhagwat’s NYC Event Against Socialist Critics

The dispute centers on a Manhattan gathering scheduled for Saturday, which aims to bring together the Hindu American community under the banner of shared heritage. While organizers, American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, frame the event as a promotion of interfaith unity, the guest list has drawn sharp rebukes from local figures.

Mamdani, the first Muslim and Indian American mayor of New York, voiced his discomfort with the event. While acknowledging the city may lack legal grounds to cancel a private booking, he criticized the RSS for promoting what he described as an exclusionary vision of India. He contrasted this with the pluralistic, secular republic he was raised to believe in.

Millben, who gained prominence in India for her renditions of "Jana Gana Mana" and "Om Jai Jagdish Hare," dismissed these concerns as ideological posturing. Taking to social media, she argued that the opposition stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of capitalism. She suggested that if critics truly wish to counter the event, they should raise their own capital to host competing rallies rather than relying on political rhetoric. Despite her support for the venue, Millben expressed hope that the "Oneness" gathering would foster a meaningful dialogue regarding religious freedom.