New York City’s Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is stirring up major controversy. The 33-year-old, who is Muslim, now faces sharp criticism from the city’s Hindu community. They accuse him of playing the victim while pushing bigotry against groups like Hindus, importing old India-Pakistan tensions into the diverse streets of the Big Apple.
Hindu Americans say Mamdani’s actions threaten the harmony that makes New York special. Activists point to his involvement in protests and statements that target Hindu symbols, leaders, and history. “He’s divisive and dangerous,” says Satya Dosapati, a 67-year-old telecom worker from New Jersey. Dosapati even funded an aerial banner over the Hudson River in June, warning: “SAVE NYC FROM GLOBAL INTIFADA. REJECT MAMADANI.”
Protests in Times Square and Attacks on Hindu Symbols
Back in 2020, Mamdani joined a protest in Times Square against the construction of the Ram Mandir, a Hindu temple in Ayodhya, India—over 8,000 miles away. Videos show him speaking at the event where activists chanted offensive slogans in Hindi, including “all Hindus are bastards” and insults against Lord Rama, a revered Hindu deity. The temple was built on a site where a mosque once stood, following a 2019 Indian court ruling that returned the land to Hindus after centuries of disputes.
Hindu leaders call this rally a shocking display of Hinduphobia in New York. Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation—the largest Hindu advocacy group in the US—says Mamdani’s presence there is troubling. She worries about his “liberal use of terms like ‘extremist’ and ‘fascist'” when talking about Hindu Americans, their symbols, and worship sites. Shukla adds that Mamdani refuses to condemn anti-Hindu chants at such events.
Clashes with Hindu-American Politicians and Silence on Vandalism
Mamdani hasn’t shied away from targeting Hindu figures in New York politics. He once labeled State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar—a trailblazing Hindu-American—the puppet of “Hindu fascists.” Rajkumar, the first Hindu elected to the New York State Assembly, has drawn fire from Mamdani for her pro-India stance.
The community also slams his silence after vandals destroyed a Gandhi statue outside a Queens Hindu temple three years ago. While other mayoral candidates condemned the attack, Mamdani stayed quiet, upsetting many in the South Asian community he claims to represent.
Fiery Rhetoric Against Indian PM Modi and Gujarat Claims
Mamdani’s comments on India, where his parents are from, have enraged Hindu Americans. He calls Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “fascist” and “war criminal,” demanding the US ban Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu from entering the country. Modi enjoys strong support among many Hindu-Americans for his leadership.
Even more controversial: Mamdani’s take on the 2002 Gujarat riots. After Islamists set fire to a train carrying Hindu pilgrims—killing 59 people—riots followed, claiming over a thousand lives. At a recent forum, Mamdani claimed India committed a “mass slaughter of Muslims” in Gujarat, suggesting Muslims there are nearly “erased.” But that’s not true—Gujarat today has over six million Muslims, making up more than 10% of the population and growing.
Mamdani’s father, Columbia professor Mahmood Mamdani, hails from Gujarat, which was led by Modi as chief minister during the riots. Critics like Hemant Patel, a Chicago-based Hindu rights activist and former software engineer, call this “offensive and dangerous.” Patel warns New York could end up like London, where he sees rising radical Islamic violence, including knife attacks and censorship, if such ideologies take hold.
Hindu Leaders Demand Action on Hinduphobia
Last month, prominent Hindu-American figures—including academics, ex-civil servants, and diaspora leaders—sent a letter to India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. They urged him to speak out against Mamdani’s “Hinduphobic lies.” Queens psych professor Lakshmi Bandlamudi, a signer, told us she’s “disappointed and shocked” by Mamdani’s Democratic nomination win in June. “He’s ethically unsound,” she says. “His reckless freebies could hurt the city, and his comments on Hindus and Jews add fuel to tensions.”
Bandlamudi stresses harmony in diverse New York: “When one community pits against another, it destroys everything. Mamdani is too divisive.” Rahul Sur, a former UN officer from Manhattan, echoes this: “New York is the world’s most diverse city. Talking about ‘globalize the Intifada’ doesn’t fit here.”
Mamdani’s supporters, mostly young, wealthy white liberals, seem unaware of these Indian subcontinent sensitivities, activists say. They fear his mayoral win could disrupt New York’s melting pot and even impact America at large.
Zohran Mamdani’s Response to the Accusations
Mamdani’s campaign pushes back. In a statement, they say: “Hinduism is a meaningful part of Zohran’s life—his mother is Hindu, and that side of his family has deeply shaped his values. Those values guide this campaign: Every New Yorker, no matter their race, religion, or background, deserves a city that protects them. Zohran rejects rhetoric targeting Hindus and opposes any politics of bigotry.”
As the New York mayoral race heats up, the Hindu community’s outcry highlights growing concerns over Hinduphobia, religious tensions, and how global issues clash with local politics. Will this “Hindu problem” derail Mamdani’s bid? Only time will tell.
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