New York City’s New Mayor Zohran Mamdani: Fierce Views on India–Israel

In the United States’ New York City mayoral election, Democrat Zohran Mamdani has achieved a historic victory. At 34 years old, Mamdani defeated Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and former Governor Andrew Cuomo (running as an Independent), making him New York City’s first Muslim mayor, first South Asian mayor, and first immigrant from Africa to hold the office. 

Progressive communities and socialists have hailed Mamdani’s triumph as a shameful defeat of Donald Trump’s policies.

Yet, alongside his victory comes debate around his background and his controversial statements concerning India, Israel and Hindu nationalism. Right-wing Indian groups have attacked him on social media, labelling him a “communist.”

Indian-heritage Family

Zohran Mamdani was born in 1986 in Kampala, Uganda. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is of Gujarati Muslim origin and migrated to the US during the rule of Uganda’s dictator Idi Amin. Mahmood Mamdani served as Chair of the Department of Anthropology and African Studies at Columbia University. His mother, Mira Nair — a well-known Indian filmmaker whose movies Salaam Bombay! and Monsoon Wedding have been nominated for Oscars and Cannes awards — was born in Punjab, India.

Before entering politics, Zohran worked as a foreclosure prevention counselor in New York, assisting homeowners in avoiding bank repossessions. He launched his political career as a New York Assembly member representing parts of Queens. 

Sharp Statements on India

Mamdani has strongly criticised India’s current government and Hindu nationalism. He called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “war criminal” and accused the BJP in October 2025 of targeting Muslims.

His stance on Hindu nationalism has been especially contentious: he described ‘Hindutva’ as a “supremacist vision” aimed at transforming India into a “Hindu nation.” At a New York India Day parade in August 2024, he opposed the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Ram Temple tableau, calling it a reminder of the Babri Masjid demolition. He said, “This vision wants to erase India’s heritage of my Hindu grandfather’s Urdu poetry and my Muslim grandfather’s Gujarati bhajans.”

Mamdani also condemned the Indian Army’s actions in Kashmir. After the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019 he tweeted: “Denying Kashmiris their rights is injustice. India’s action is akin to occupation.” In 2023 he rallied with Kashmiri activists in New York and raised the slogan of “Freedom for Palestine and Kashmir.” Pakistani media lauded these remarks and described him as a “symbol of Muslim solidarity.” 

Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a party wing known for its pro-Palestine and left-wing stance. Islamabad-based groups like Jamaat e Islami applauded his anti-Israel rhetoric.

He has labelled Israel’s bombing and starvation of Gaza as “war crimes” and promised to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters New York after Mamdani becomes mayor. He rejected calls for Hamas to disarm and asked for a permanent cease-fire and ban on American arms to Israel—a stance that alarmed New York’s Jewish community. 

Nevertheless, Mamdani’s statements could pose diplomatic challenges globally. Over 40 % of NYC’s population are minorities—yet Mamdani assures that his policies will be equal for all.