Controversy Engulfs NYC Mayoral Hopeful
Zohran Mamdani faces backlash over criticism of Indian PM
As Zohran Mamdani vies to become New York City’s first South Asian mayor, his outspoken views, especially regarding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have ignited a firestorm of criticism both in India and within the diaspora.
Attacks on Religion
Since Mamdani’s Democratic primary victory on June 24, right-wing voices have focused on his Muslim faith, branding him a “jihadi”
and “Islamist.”
Some accuse him of anti-Hindu bias.
Kayla Bassett, research director at the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, suggests that these attacks are part of a broader effort to denigrate Muslims, promoting a narrative that views them as inherently suspect or un-American.
BJP Criticism
As Mamdani seeks to broaden his support base, the attacks could impact his mayoral campaign. He is expected to face current mayor Eric Adams, and possibly Andrew Cuomo, in the general election.
Members of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have openly criticized Mamdani for denouncing human rights abuses, questioning his suitability for office.
BJP Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut posted that Mamdani “sounds more Pakistani than Indian,”
wondering what happened to his Hindu heritage, given that his mother, director Mira Nair, has Hindu roots. She added, “Now he is ready to wipe out Hinduism.”
Soon after Mamdani’s primary win, a pro-BJP news channel in India claimed he received funding from organizations promoting an “anti-India”
agenda, warning of a growing Muslim population in New York City.
AAPI Victory Fund strongly condemns the Islamophobic attacks against Zohran Mamdani following his historic victory in the Democratic Primary Election for Mayor of New York City.
Read our full statement: https://t.co/R8LZeiIEVM pic.twitter.com/wX8FOeZGlV
— AAPI Victory Fund (@AAPIVictoryFund) July 8, 2025
“Save NYC from Global Intifada”
Even closer to home, the New Jersey-based group Indian Americans for Cuomo spent $3,570 to fly a banner over New York City that read: “Save NYC from Global Intifada. Reject Mamdani.”
Criticism of Human Rights
Much of the opposition stems from Mamdani’s outspoken criticism of Hindu nationalism and Modi. The mayoral hopeful has been vocal about abuses in places such as Gaza and India.
In 2020, Mamdani protested in Times Square against a temple built on the site of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya. In 2023, he read notes from imprisoned Indian activist Umar Khalid, who has been jailed without trial since 2020 on terrorism charges after criticizing Modi’s government.
During a mayoral town hall in May, Mamdani stated he would not meet with Modi if the prime minister visited the city again, calling him a “war criminal”
and referencing his leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, where over a thousand people, mostly Muslims, died.
“Narendra Modi helped to orchestrate what was a mass slaughter of Muslims in Gujarat, to the extent that we don’t even believe that there are Gujarati Muslims any more,”
—Zohran Mamdani, NYC Mayoral Candidate
In the aftermath of the riots, Modi was once denied a US visa for “severe violations of religious freedom.”
Class and Religion Barriers
Rohit Chopra, a communications professor at Santa Clara University, connects the outrage to Mamdani’s criticism of Modi. Moreover, class divisions among Hindu Americans may fuel skepticism toward Mamdani.
Pew Research Center data shows that 44% of Asian American Hindus have family incomes exceeding $150,000, and six in 10 hold postgraduate degrees (Pew Research Center). As a result, wealthier Hindu Americans may not identify with those from different class backgrounds.
Suchitra Vijayan, founder of the Polis Project, notes that the attacks on Mamdani often focus on his identity. She notes a similar backlash against other Muslim politicians, like US Congress members Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, for criticizing Modi.
The scrutiny intensifies due to Mamdani’s family ties, as his father is of Gujarati descent and has spoken about the Gujarat violence.
A ‘Seismic’ Victory?
Despite the online attacks, experts believe Mamdani’s campaign could mobilize Indian American voters and other members of the South Asian diaspora, who tend to lean Democratic. According to Census Bureau data, over 317,000 Asian Indians reside in New York City, making them the city’s fourth-largest Asian group (US Census Bureau).
Preliminary results showed Mamdani performed well in neighborhoods with large Asian populations. The final ranked-choice tally released July 1 showed Mamdani defeating Cuomo 56% to 44%.
Arvind Rajagopal, a professor of media studies at New York University, described Mamdani’s win as “seismic.”
He added that Mamdani’s ability to speak Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, and passable Bangla makes him a rare candidate.
Rajagopal added that embracing his Muslim identity has become an asset for Mamdani, especially given the current political climate.
Jagpreet Singh, political director of DRUM Beats, says that Mamdani has reached out to working-class Hindu communities “in an authentic way,”
visiting temples and speaking at cultural events.
To Singh, South Asian groups in New York City, including Hindu Americans, “have adopted him as their own.”
