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Prime ministers

Hindu Nationalists Target Zohran Mamdani in High-Stakes New York City Mayoral Election

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As New York City Democrats choose their mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani is drawing fire from supporters of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who accuse him of being anti-Hindu. The controversy is tied to Mamdani's criticism of Modi's government, which he has assailed for years, labeling the prime minister a "war criminal" and a proponent of "Hindu fascism." The attacks, backed by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Hindu nationalist groups in the US and India, aim to discredit Mamdani among Indian Americans and moderate Democrats. Despite this, Mamdani has maintained a strong base of support among South Asian New Yorkers, including many Hindus, who are energized by the prospect of a South Asian mayor.

Key Takeaways:

  • Zohran Mamdani, the front-runner for New York City's mayoral nomination, is facing criticism from Hindu nationalists and supporters of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his criticism of Modi's government.
  • The attacks, which include aerial banners and social media posts, aim to portray Mamdani as anti-Hindu and anti-Indian,Ahead of a potential general election, Mamdani has tempered his rhetoric, expressing a desire to discourage using the phrase "globalize the intifada," which has been interpreted as a call for violence.
  • Pro-Modi groups in the US, including the Gujarati Samaj of New York, are actively supporting Mamdani's opponents, motivated by their close ties to the Indian government.
  • Mamdani, a Muslim, has been accused of promoting an anti-Hindu agenda by some Hindu American groups, who point to his criticism of Modi's government as evidence of his supposed animosity towards Hindus.
  • Despite these attacks, Mamdani, 33, has won significant support among South Asians in New York City, including many Hindus, who are energized by the prospect of a South Asian mayor.
  • In 2020, Mamdani attended a demonstration in Times Square where a group of protesters chanted anti-Hindu slogans, but he has maintained that he was there to stand against right-wing nationalism in India.
  • According to data from The Center for the Study of Organized Hate, more than 600 posts criticizing Mamdani were uploaded to social media platforms in the weeks before June 30, primarily from right-wing accounts in India and global profiles associated with Hindu nationalism.
  • The controversy has highlighted the complex relationships between Indian American communities, Hindu nationalist groups, and South Asian politics in New York City.

Statistics:

  • There are approximately 447,064 South Asian residents in New York City, an important pool of voters.
  • Hindus make up around 2% of New York's metropolitan population, with around 80,000 adherents in the city.
  • Between June 13 and June 30, more than 600 posts criticizing Mamdani were uploaded to social media platforms from known right-wing accounts in India and global profiles associated with Hindu nationalism.
  • The Gujarati Samaj of New York has around 4,000 members.

Sources:

  • The New York Times, "Indian-American Groups and Their Links to Narendra Modi"
  • The Pew Research Center, "Hindus in the United States and Europe"
  • The Center for the Study of Organized Hate, "Tracking Islamophobia Online"
  • The Guardian, "Narendra Modi and the rise of Hindu nationalism in India"
  • The Independent, "Zohran Mamdani in a controversy sparked by a viral clip"

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