Zohran Mamdani’s old video criticising Narendra Modi resurfaces amid NYC Mayoral buzz
New York: As New York City Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani emerges as a prominent contender in the race for the city’s 2025 mayoral elections, a past video of his remarks on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gone viral on social media, drawing both criticism and support.
The resurfaced clip shows Mamdani speaking at a public event earlier this year, where he was asked whether he would consider sharing a platform with PM Modi, particularly in the context of Modi’s Madison Square Garden rally. Mamdani firmly declined the idea and offered a detailed explanation for his position, referencing the 2002 Gujarat riots and drawing a controversial comparison.
“This is someone who helped to orchestrate what was a mass slaughter of Muslims in Gujarat,” Mamdani said in the video, referring to Modi’s role as then Chief Minister of Gujarat. “To the extent that we don’t even believe there are Gujarati Muslims anymore... And this is someone we should view in the same manner that we do Benjamin Netanyahu — this is a war criminal,” he added.
The comments have triggered mixed reactions across social media platforms such as X and Instagram, especially among Indian-American communities and political observers. While some praised Mamdani for taking a principled stand, others criticised the remarks as inflammatory and disrespectful to a democratically elected world leader.
Mamdani, 33, is the son of Indian-born Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani and acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair. He is currently a Democratic Socialist and has represented Astoria in the New York State Assembly since 2020. Born in Uganda, Mamdani moved to the United States at age seven and became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
A first-generation Gujarati Muslim by heritage, Mamdani has long been vocal about international human rights issues, including his advocacy for Palestinian rights during his time at Bowdoin College, where he co-founded the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.
His recent rise in the Democratic mayoral primary, especially after the withdrawal of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, has placed him in the national spotlight. He secured the Democratic nomination, Mamdani is expected to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the November general election.
The final results of the Democratic primary are expected later this year. Mamdani has not issued any fresh statement in response to the viral video as of yet.
Zohran Mamdani's view on Narendra Modi
— 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒚𝒂🛡 (@catale7a) June 25, 2025
[New York City Mayoral Democratic Nominee] pic.twitter.com/Laa5VSwxJQ
"We should view Modi the way we view Netanyahu. This is a war criminal," says Indian-origin politician Zohran Mamdani in his campaign for New York Mayor pic.twitter.com/P6tzorEx5T
— Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) June 7, 2025
Zohran Mamdani has burnt down Bhakats and Zionist by Calling Modi Butcher of Gujrat and Netanyahu a war Criminal .. Ladies and Gentlemen the Future Mayor of Newyork is already a Hero pic.twitter.com/Y2CxOw73z6
— Faisal Ranjha (@ranjha001) June 25, 2025
Zohran Mamdani's view on Narendra Modi.
— Dr Nimo Yadav 2.0 (@DrNimoYadav) June 25, 2025
Videsh mein danka baj rha hai
pic.twitter.com/oI2jf5wbHE
Zohran Mamdani, son of filmmaker Mira Nair, is an immigrant, socialist, and now NYC mayoral nominee. He once called Narendra Modi a “war criminal” over the 2002 Gujarat riots. He is a rare politician who doesn't mince words, locally or globally.#Emergency #Emergency1975 pic.twitter.com/GcNCV0kyL7
— Adv. Vijay Singh (@VijaySingh_law) June 25, 2025
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
NATO, others turn down US call for help in Hormuz: Trump
Washington (PTI): President Donald Trump on Tuesday said NATO and most of US' other allies have rejected his calls to help secure the Strait of Hormuz as the war with Iran entered the third week.
In a social media post, Trump asserted that Iran’s military has been “decimated” and he no longer felt the need for assistance from NATO countries or anyone else.
Last week, Trump had sought help from European nations and others who depend on oil supplies transiting from the Hormuz Strait to safeguard the critical waterway.
“The United States has been informed by most of our NATO “Allies” that they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation against the Terrorist Regime of Iran, in the Middle East, this, despite the fact that almost every Country strongly agreed with what we are doing, and that Iran cannot, in any way, shape, or form, be allowed to have a Nuclear Weapon,” the US President said in a post on Truth Social.
Iran's attacks on Gulf nations and its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported, have sparked increasing concerns of a global energy crisis and are unnerving the world economy.
“I am not surprised by their action, however, because I always considered NATO, where we spend Hundreds of Billions of Dollars per year protecting these same Countries, to be a one-way street — We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need,” Trump said.
He said Australia, Japan and South Korea too have turned down his call for help.
“Fortunately, we have decimated Iran’s Military – Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti-Aircraft and Radar is gone and perhaps, most importantly, their Leaders, at virtually every level, are gone, never to threaten us, our Middle Eastern Allies, or the World, again,” Trump said.
He said that given the scale of recent military successes, the US no longer "need" or desires assistance from NATO countries, adding that it never relied on such support in the first place.
Speaking as President of the United States, the "most powerful" country in the world, "we do not need" help from anyone, Trump said.
The West Asia conflict began on February 28 when the US-Israeli combine conducted airstrikes on Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, has effectively been shut following the US and Israel attack on Iran and Tehran's sweeping retaliation.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said that from Tehran's "perspective", the strait is "open". "It is only closed to Iran's enemies, to those who carried out unjust aggression against our country and to their allies.”
Earlier in the day, a second Indian-flagged LPG tanker, Nanda Devi, reached the country after safely sailing from the war-hit Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, the first ship, Shivalik, reached Mundra port in Gujarat.
As of now, 22 Indian vessels remain on the west side and two on the east side of the strait.
Indian authorities are in constant touch with all the relevant stakeholders in the region to secure the safe passage of the remaining ships, officials said.
