Copyright indiatoday
Months after Zohran Mamdani called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "war criminal," the New York City mayoral candidate has defended his stance in his outreach to Hindu American voters on Diwali, saying that he grew up in an India which celebrated pluralism.Mamdani, who visited several Hindu temples in Queens for the Festival of Lights, then went on to say that PM Modi and his party, BJP, are rather leading India with a vision that the country "only has room for certain kinds of Indians.""So, I have been critical of Mr. Modi because of the vision that I grew up with was of an India that was pluralistic, an India where everyone belonged, no matter their religion. And my critique has been of Mr. Modi and the BJP political party for their vision of an India that only has room for certain kinds of Indians, and it's part of a belief that pluralism is something to be celebrated, something to be strived for," he said in his address to the Hindu American community. And I also know that I'm running to be the mayor of New York City—eight and a half million people—many of whom may feel differently than me about Mr. Modi, and that's their right, and I will look to represent them all the same, because my responsibility to them as New Yorkers is to ensure that they are safe, to ensure they can afford this city.".preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}After Mamdani's victory in the Democratic mayoral primary, a video resurfaced showing his criticisms of Modi regarding the 2002 Gujarat riots. In the footage, Mamdani alleges that Muslims were eradicated from Gujarat, stating that "people don’t even believe we exist anymore," referencing the scale of violence and its aftermath.At a recent candidates' forum, Mamdani responded to a question about appearing alongside Modi during a New York visit by drawing a parallel between Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labeling both as "war criminal." These comments have led to significant backlash both within the Indian American community and among political figures in India.Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi posted on X, "When Zohran Mamdani opens his mouth, Pakistan’s PR team takes the day off. India doesn’t need enemies with ‘allies’ like him shouting fiction from New York." BJP MP Kangana Ranaut also criticized Mamdani, saying he "sounds more Pakistani than Indian."Indu Viswanathan, an Indian-American New Yorker who identifies as a liberal, described Mamdani's statements as "blatant lies," and referred to him as "a projection of an illiberal, anti-intellectual left-wing authoritarianism that has sunk its teeth into progressive politics."Community leaders have pointed out factual errors in Mamdani's claim regarding Muslims in Gujarat. Critics cited the 2011 Indian census, which recorded Muslims as comprising at least 10 percent of Gujarat's population, or around six million people at the time.Mamdani's comments have reopened old wounds over the 2002 Gujarat riots. He has maintained his position, linking his personal heritage and political platform to a broader vision of pluralism and inclusion, while his opponents frame his narrative as misleading and divisive.The debate comes against the backdrop of the 2022 Supreme Court decision in India, which upheld Special Investigation Team findings that gave Modi and others a clean chit in connection with the 2002 violence. Despite this, Mamdani's rhetoric continues to evoke strong reactions.The incident highlights ongoing tensions within the Indian diaspora in the United States, where debates over Indian politics often intersect with local political ambitions and questions of identity.As Mamdani advances in his mayoral campaign, his outspoken stance on pluralism and criticism of Modi's leadership remain focal points of discussion, both in New York and among observers in India.- EndsPublished By: Sayan GangulyPublished On: Oct 21, 2025Must Watch
