Hindus for Human Rights is a core member of Savera: United Against Supremacy, a coalition working to challenge supremacist politics and defend pluralism across South Asian communities.
We’re sharing Savera’s new advisory, “Hindu supremacist groups are deceiving interfaith organizations: What our colleagues should know.” The advisory responds to the August 29 RSS event at Madison Square Garden, where interfaith leaders were invited without full transparency about Mohan Bhagwat’s involvement or how their participation would be used.
It offers practical guidance for faith leaders on recognizing misleading invitations, asking the right questions, and protecting the integrity of interfaith work.
Download and share the full advisory with your congregation, board, and interfaith networks.
FAQ
What is the new Savera advisory about?
The advisory warns interfaith leaders about efforts by Hindu supremacist groups to use interfaith spaces, events, and relationships to gain legitimacy. It was issued after interfaith leaders were invited to events connected to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s August 2026 visit without full transparency about his involvement or how their participation would be used.
Who is Savera?
Savera: United Against Supremacy is a coalition of South Asian and allied organizations working against supremacist politics. Hindus for Human Rights is a core member of the coalition.
What happened at the August 29, 2026 RSS event in New York?
According to the advisory, interfaith leaders were invited to events at the Pierre Hotel and Madison Square Garden without being clearly told that Mohan Bhagwat would be present or how the events were connected. Some participants’ statements and commitments were later used publicly without their consent.
What is the RSS?
The advisory describes the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS, as a Hindu nationalist organization and the central organization in the broader Sangh Parivar network. It distinguishes the RSS’s political ideology of Hindutva from Hinduism as a religion.
Is Hindutva the same as Hinduism?
No. The advisory explicitly states that Hindutva is not Hinduism. It describes Hindutva as a political ideology of Hindu supremacy and notes that many Hindus in India and the United States reject it.
What warning signs should interfaith leaders look for?
The advisory recommends caution when invitations come from unfamiliar organizations, fail to name sponsors or funders, leave featured speakers unnamed, focus heavily on visual display, or ask participants for statements or commitments without explaining how they will be used.
What should faith leaders do before accepting an invitation?
Savera recommends asking in writing who is organizing, sponsoring, and funding the event, who else will participate, and how a participant’s name, image, words, and institutional affiliation will be used.
Who should read the advisory?
It is especially relevant for clergy, faith leaders, interfaith organizations, congregations, boards, and community groups. Savera specifically encourages readers to share it across their interfaith networks.
Where can I download the full Savera advisory?
The full advisory, Hindu Supremacist Groups Are Deceiving Interfaith Organizations: What Our Colleagues Should Know, is available for download on this page.