Socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani recently condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to him as a “war criminal.” This statement has led to criticism from other city officials who accuse Mamdani of inciting “hate” against the leader of the Hindu-majority nation.
Following similar controversial remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mamdani targeted Modi at a recent mayoral forum.
“We need to consider him just as we do Benjamin Netanyahu. This is a war criminal,” Mamdani stated in response to a hypothetical question about whether he would meet Modi if the Indian Prime Minister were to visit New York City.
Mamdani, who is a Muslim of Indian descent, noted that his father Mahmood’s family hails from the Gujarat region of India, where Modi has been accused of allowing a massacre of 1,000 Muslims to go on in 2002. It’s a claim Modi has repeatedly denied.
“Narendra Modi helped to orchestrate what was a mass slaughter of Muslims in Gujarat to the extent that [people] don’t even believe there are Gujarat Muslims anymore,” Mamdani said during the May 15 “New Mayor, New Media” event sponsored by New York Focus and HellGate NY.
He also said people are “shocked” when he reveals he’s a Gujarat Muslim.
He previously slammed two New York politicians of Indian descent — Queens Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and former state Sen. Kevin Thomas — for being aligned with or not condemning Modi and his ruling Hindu government.
In 2020, he criticized other lawmakers of Indian descent for associating with Modi’s regime.
“@JeniferRajkumar should return the money she’s taken from Hindu fascists,” he said in a tweet, referring to the Queens assemblywoman who is now running for public advocate.
“@KevinThomasNY should acknowledge the terrifying truth of what’s happening to Muslim Indians,” he added, referring to the former Long Island state senator.
He also said former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney should “renounce her association with Modi & condemn the atrocities he’s perpetrated.”
In response, Rajkumar, an Indo-American who is Hindu, took a swipe at Mamdani.
“At a time when New Yorkers are struggling with real issues—rising crime, a housing crisis, and growing hate—we cannot afford to be distracted by extreme, divisive language about foreign leaders,” Rajkumar said.
“Hinduism is a faith of peace, nonviolence, and interfaith harmony. Hindu voters want our leaders to build bridges—not burn them. We must reject hate—whether it comes from the far left or the far right. Our city deserves leaders who unite, not provoke—who build coalitions, not headlines,” the lawmaker said in a swipe at Mamdani.
Jaspreet Singh, a Sikh Community Leader and human rights lawyer, said, “Hate has no place in our city. We believe in equality, love and respect for all. We believe all are children of the same God.
“But Zohran has used his platform to amplify some of the worst anti-Hindu rhetoric imaginable. Words matter, and instead of uniting the Indian community, he seeks to divide us by religion, pitting Muslims and Hindus against each other. Associating Hindus with fascism and using derogatory words against them is highly objectionable.”
Singh accused Mamdani of trying to “dehumanize” the Hindu community.
“Hatred serves no purpose. People who wish to serve others in any capacity should rise above it. He owes the Hindu community an apology and if he cares about human rights, he’ll start treating us as equals. This type of hateful rhetoric against our community has no place in New York, let alone anywhere near the footsteps of City Hall.”
Mamdani’s criticism could stir up the 250,000 Indo-Americans, many of whom are Hindus. It wouldn’t be the only large New York voting block that his comments and actions have incensed.
Mamdani is also a staunch critic of Israel and supports the boycott divestment and sanctions movement against the Jewish State, even leading “BDS!” chants at a 2021 pro-Palestinian rally.
Jewish civil rights groups such as the Anti-Defamation brand the BDS movement as antisemitic for seeking to undermine Israel.
