Two members of the public used the council’s public comment period on Sept. 25 to urge Newark’s leaders to end engagements with an organization identified as the HSS, which the speakers said is linked to India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Peter Friedrich told the council he was “disappointed” that city leaders have repeatedly honored the HSS and said the organization “is the international wing of the RSS,” a group he described as promoting “Hindutva,” which he characterized as a majoritarian ideology and cited reports from civil-society organizations in his remarks. Friedrich said the city should “close the door on one of the leading propagators of Hindutva, the HSS,” and left informational packets for council members.

A second commenter, identified only as a resident, said he “100 percent” supported Friedrich’s remarks and recalled past California debates over caste-discrimination legislation (identified in the comment as SB 403) as an example of the HSS/RSS opposing anti-discrimination measures.

The speakers’ remarks were delivered during public comment and did not prompt a council action at the meeting. Council members did not respond with any formal measure to restrict events or proclamations involving outside groups during the meeting; any future staff or council action would require a formal agenda item and public hearing.