Newly elected Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has sparked global debate after calling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “war criminal” during a recent media interaction.
Zohran Kwame Mamdani, 34, a state assembly member who rose to prominence by campaigning against soaring living costs and promising a break from scandal tainted leadership, was elected New York City’s 111th mayor.
In a viral video circulating on social media, a journalist questioned Mamdani about his remarks on Modi. In response, the American Muslim mayor reaffirmed his long held position, referring to international concerns raised before Modi became India’s Prime Minister regarding his central role in the 2002 Gujarat riots which caused deaths of thousand of Muslims.
Mamdani, who has Indian roots, said he hails from Gujarat, the same state where the systemic violence occurred against Muslims under the patronage of state government. He expressed deep sorrow over the massacre, stating that “it’s now rare to be called a Gujarati Muslim because they are few left.” Mamdani compared Modi to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labeling both as “war criminals” for their roles in violence against minority communities in their respective countries.
Independent human rights reports and global watchdogs have previously raised questions about Modi’s leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, in which thousands of Muslims were killed.
Zohran Mamdani’s historic win as New York City’s first American-Muslim mayor marks a significant milestone in the city’s political landscape. However, his outspoken remarks on global human rights issues have already drawn mixed reactions with supporters praising his courage and critics accusing him of fueling diplomatic tensions.
Despite the controversy, Mamdani remains firm on his stance, saying leaders must be held accountable “no matter how powerful they are.”
