Tricolour Desecrated During Protest Against Bhagwat in New York

New Delhi, August 30, 2026 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s address in New York on Saturday, August 29, was met with a protest by pro-Khalistani elements linked to Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The demonstration outside Madison Square Garden reportedly escalated into acts of disrespect towards the Indian national flag, bringing the confrontation between anti-India protesters and Bhagwat’s US visit into sharp focus. Videos circulating on social media show a pro-Khalistani Sikh wrapping the Indian Tricolour around his foot and posing for cameras while insulting the flag. In another incident, protesters were seen taking another Indian flag, tearing it apart and celebrating as they danced and cheered. The protesters gathered at Madison Square Garden carrying banners and posters with offensive messages, including “Modi is the face of Hindu terror”. They also raised pro-Khalistani and anti-India slogans. A cut-out of Mohan Bhagwat was displayed during the protest, with a shoe garland placed around it. The SFJ was reportedly at the forefront of the demonstration against Bhagwat’s address. Bhagwat had been invited by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) to speak at the “Universal Oneness Celebration” organised at the Infosys Theater inside Madison Square Garden. He reached the US on Tuesday as part of a three-country tour linked to the RSS’s centenary-year global outreach. His visit, however, drew opposition from pro-Khalistani and anti-India groups. The SFJ, which has been designated a terrorist organisation by the Government of India, has a record of anti-India activities and threats targeting the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Before Bhagwat’s visit, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), chaired by Pakistan-born American Dr Asif Mahmood, had called for US sanctions against the RSS. The protest has added a contentious chapter to Bhagwat’s US visit, with the alleged desecration of the Tricolour intensifying concerns over the nature of anti-India demonstrations abroad. The developments have once again placed the activities of pro-Khalistani groups and their opposition to Indian political and social figures under scrutiny.