New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani declared victory Tuesday night in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, after former Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded the race. The 33-year-old democratic socialist, who entered the contest as a relative unknown, surged ahead in early results, building a decisive lead over the veteran politician whose campaign was overshadowed by past controversies.

Although the final outcome will be confirmed following a ranked-choice vote tally, Mamdani emerged as the clear frontrunner just hours after polls closed. Speaking to a crowd of jubilant supporters, Mamdani said, “I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City.” He added, “I will be the mayor for every New Yorker, whether you voted for me, for Governor Cuomo, or felt too disillusioned by a long-broken political system to vote at all. I will work to be a mayor you will be proud to call your own.”

Meanwhile, a social media post on Mamdani is now going viral on X. It calls Mamdani the “new Jehadi Mayor of New York”, alleging that he “harbours a deep hatred for both Hindus and Jews and tacitly supports violence against them.”

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Allegations from 2020 protest

One of the primary criticisms in the viral thread centers on Mamdani’s participation in an August 2020 protest in Times Square, opposing the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, India. According to the post, “‘Who are the Hindus? Harami,’ the mob was heard yelling. Mamdani remained unflinched despite the dehumanisation of the Hindu community by his supporters.” Mamdani was quoted at the event saying: “I am here today to protest against the BJP government in India and the demolition of the Babri Masjid that attempted to build a temple on the ruins of it.” Critics argue that Mamdani’s silence on the hateful slogans and his opposition to the temple project show tacit endorsement of anti-Hindu sentiment.

Community leaders respond

Jaspreet Singh, a Sikh human rights lawyer, is quoted in the post saying: “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.” New York Assemblymember Jennifer Rajkumar also reportedly condemned Mamdani’s comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “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.”

‘Globalise the Intifada’ and jewish concerns

The post also claims Mamdani has voiced support for the slogan “Globalize the intifada,” which critics interpret as incitement to global violence. The thread reads: “This is a clear threat of violence against innocent Jews around the world because if the intifada’s theatre of operations is global, then it is necessarily directed against civilians.”

It goes on to say, “Supporters of the Palestine movement have engaged in harassment, graffiti, and violence and terrorism against Jews worldwide… This is the violence Mamdani supports.” These claims have not been verified, and Mamdani has not publicly advocated for violence. However, the use of the slogan has been widely debated in political and activist circles, particularly amid rising tensions related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Fears of foreign conflict spilling into US politics

The thread raises broader concerns about international conflicts shaping local political discourse in the U.S., quoting The Atlantic: “An unfortunate spillover effect of the war between Israel and Hamas is its extension into US politics. If we are heading toward a future in which even candidates for local office in the United States run on their position toward the Middle East, American politics will come to resemble that intractable conflict.”

Drawing comparisons with London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan, the post warns, “We have seen how London exploded after the Pakistani Sadiq Khan became the Mayor in 2016… London has become a safe haven for religious extremists from Pakistan and the Middle East.” It further states, “New York is a much larger city with 750,000 Muslims, including highly radicalised Palestinians and Pakistanis… Mamdani’s incendiary approach to politics could turn New York into a battle ground, a real life Gotham City.”