New York Mayoral candidate Zoran Kwame Mamdani has become something of an internet celebrity in recent months — finding adulation across the globe as he fought to win the Democratic primary election. The 33-year-old newcomer has dubbed himself as “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare” and remains vocal in his criticism of many existing policies. But his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left many in India (including ruling party lawmakers) fuming after the stunning election victory on Tuesday.
Videos of his past comments linked to Indian issues have since gone viral — including his reading of notes written by jailed student activist Umar Khalid. The address was delivered ahead of PM Modi’s visit to New York in 2023 while Mamdani was a member of the New York State Assembly.
He had also garnered widespread backlash after likening Modi to to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an event earlier this year. Gujarati-origin Mamdani had alluded to the 2002 riots upon being asked during a rally whether he was on board with a possible partnership with the Indian leader for a press conference after his Madison Square Garden rally.
“I’m going to be reading a letter from Umar Khalid, who is a scholar and a former student activist at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi…who organized a campaign against lynching and hate. He has been in jail for more than 1 thousand days under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and has yet to face trial, though his bail application has been repeatedly denied. He has also faced an assassination attempt,” Mamdani can be heard telling the packed room.
Mamdani secured a surprising first-round victory against former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary election earlier this week — setting himself up for a three-way contest in November against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. It remains unclear whether Cuomo will now opt to contest the Mayoral elections as an independent candidate.
