Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who previously participated in anti-Hindu protests where crowds chanted “Hindus are bastards,” is now courting Hindu voters through temple visits and lectures on pluralism, exposing what critics call a calculated political deception.
On 6 October 2025, Mamdani visited Flushing, Queens, to offer prayers at two of New York’s oldest Hindu temples, attempting to “reconnect with his Hindu roots.” The temple visit included him wearing shoes within temple premises while delivering speeches about Diwali, Raksha Bandhan, and Hindu values of seva (service).
Zohara Mamdani, this is sinister!⁰Today, you came to my temple , the most sacred place in the world for me and for millions of Hindus.⁰You used this holy space for your political agenda.
Coming to a temple is always welcome, but people come to pray.⁰Did you pray?⁰Did you do… pic.twitter.com/KKldkNPcyV— Vimal Patil (@proudhinduUSA) October 8, 2025
At his latest temple run during Deepavali, Mamdani preached pluralism and seemed to justify why he was ‘critical’ of PM Modi. He said, “So, I have been critical of Mr. Modi because of the vision that I grew up with was of an India that was pluralistic, an India where everyone belonged, no matter their religion. And my critique has been of Mr. Modi and the BJP political party for their vision of an India that only has room for certain kinds of Indians, and it’s part of a belief that pluralism is something to be celebrated, something to be strived for.”
Trying to reach out to the Hindus of NYC who are still out of his reach, he said, “And I also know that I’m running to be the mayor of New York City – eight and a half million people – many of whom may feel differently than me about Mr. Modi, and that’s their right, and I will look to represent them all the same, because my responsibility to them as New Yorkers is to ensure that they are safe, to ensure they can afford this city, and to ensure they are not just protected but are celebrated in that same city. And in many ways, it is the lesson I’ve learned of being a part of the Indian diaspora.”
Another foreign politician LECTURES India about inclusivity.
NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani targets PM Modi saying “Modi & BJP have room only for certain kinds of Indians.”
👉 Relax, Zohran — India doesn’t need lessons on inclusivity from New York politicians. pic.twitter.com/aZKQJSlIby
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) October 22, 2025
Mamdani has repeatedly slandered Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a democratically elected leader, as a “war criminal,” despite the Supreme Court of India clearing Modi of allegations related to the 2002 Gujarat riots. At a candidates’ forum, Mamdani compared Modi to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling both “war criminals.”
Zohran Mamdani’s view on Narendra Modi
[New York City Mayoral Democratic Nominee] pic.twitter.com/Laa5VSwxJQ— 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒚𝒂🛡 (@catale7a) June 25, 2025
Anti-Hindu Activism And Khalistani Ties
This outreach stands in stark contrast to Mamdani’s documented history of anti-Hindu activism. In 2020, Mamdani led a hate mob in Times Square that demonized the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, branding the project a “fascist atrocity.” The protests featured chants of “Hindus are bastards” – slurs Mamdani never disavowed – and saw him aligned with Khalistani separatists.
At the time, Mamdani declared: “I protest the demolition of the Babri masjid and the attempt to build a mandir on top of the ruins of it.” He further claimed, “As an Indian Muslim whose family is witnessing the rising tide of fascism in India, I won’t be silent,” framing Hindu nationalism as a global threat while ignoring Islamic extremism.
NYC Candidate for Mayor Zohran Mamdani led a mob of protestors in Times Square calling Hindus as bastards and heaping abuses upon Lord Rama, who is worshipped by Hindus
A true scumbag pic.twitter.com/r1002yUY70
— Journalist V (@OnTheNewsBeat) May 17, 2025
Islamist Agenda And Growing Backlash
Mamdani’s political platform reflects what critics describe as an Islamist agenda. He has proposed higher property taxes on “richer, whiter neighborhoods” – a plan critics compare to race-based redistribution – and pushes for socialist policies like free buses and city-run supermarkets.
Notably, Mamdani has pushed for mandatory halal food in all NYC public schools a key legislative priority, framing it as “inclusion” while Christian and Jewish dietary laws are ignored. Critics note that halal certification is controlled by groups with ties to extremist funding networks.
Mamdani also refused to condemn the antisemitic slogan “globalize the intifada,” drawing criticism from Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. His campaign has accepted $100,000 from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial.
It is noteworthy that in a January 2025 post on social media, Mamdani stated that he was attending Jummah prayers at the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge. He also appeared in photos standing next to Imam Muhammad Al-Barr, a religious leader known for praising Hamas and calling for divine guidance for their attacks on Israel.
It was a privilege to join Jummah prayers at the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge today. pic.twitter.com/3WjtQLohtv
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) January 17, 2025
Just five months earlier, Al-Barr had been recorded in the same mosque delivering a prayer calling for violent jihad, “Oh Allah, grant victory to all of them, and do not grant anyone victory over them. Oh Allah, lift the enemy’s hands from them. Oh Allah, protect their honor and their life. Oh Allah, annihilate those who occupied their lands, those who betrayed and deserted them and those who spilled their blood. Annihilate all of them and show us your fierce punishment and revenge upon them.”
The mosque’s former imam, Reda Shata, has previously been profiled by The New York Times and is known for spreading deeply antisemitic messages. Shata has claimed that Jews are “the biggest liars among all of God’s creation,” attributing their behavior to a so-called “lying gene,” and describing them as “masters of forgery.”
Political Calculations And Hindu American Resistance
With the mayoral race tightening, Mamdani faces growing resistance from Hindu Americans. Days before the Democratic primary in June, a plane flew over the Statue of Liberty carrying a banner reading: “Save NYC from global intifada” and “Reject Mamdani” – funded by Hindu Americans angered by what they called Mamdani’s “anti-Hindu and anti-Indian agenda.”
Political analysts note that Mamdani’s sudden temple outreach represents a cynical attempt to win over the crucial Indian-American voter base in New York City – many of whom he has alienated with his anti-Modi rhetoric and anti-Hindu activism.
Mamdani’s Ties To Islamic Terror Network
New York politician Zohran Mamdani has been accused of receiving backing from U.S.-based organisations with alleged links to Pakistan-backed Islamist networks and anti-India lobbying groups. These include the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), which critics say have ties to entities such as Jamaat-e-Islami and the banned SIMI. The controversy intensified after Mamdani was publicly supported by figures associated with these groups, sparking concerns that his campaign may be influenced by organisations that routinely criticise India on international platforms. While Mamdani’s outreach to Hindu communities and temple visits project an inclusive image, detractors argue this conceals deeper ideological associations aimed at advancing anti-India narratives.
(Source: India Today)
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