New York City’s Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has lately taken to visiting Hindu temples — but these visits are shadowed by his prior record of harsh statements toward Hindus.

Elections often force politicians to choose: show their true selves, or put on a mask to win votes. In Mamdani’s case, critics say he is doing the latter — stepping into Hindu temples to win support, while a long trail of remarks suggests otherwise.

On 5th October 2025, Mamdani visited two of the oldest Hindu temples in Flushing, New York: the Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapathy Temple and the Hindu Temple Society of North America. Videos and images shared online show him being welcomed with garlands and a scarf. People nearby held placards reading “Hindus for Zohran for New York City.”

When speaking with the press, Mamdani said he is proud of his mother, Mira Nair’s, Hindu background and, despite being a Muslim, claimed he holds Hindu values dear and “understands Hinduism.” Yet, his claim of respect clashes with what he did inside the temple: he wore shoes while everyone else was barefoot in keeping with tradition. If he truly understood Hindu norms, critics argue, he would not have broken such a rule — or perhaps the act was intentional. Either way, the temple visit looks more like tokenism than genuine outreach.

Some worshippers welcomed his visit, praising his promise to freeze rent and calling his gesture a “bridge-building” act. But this new, election-timed affection toward Hindus does not erase a long list of past actions and statements. Mamdani’s previous remarks about Hindus and India paint a different picture.

Mamdani’s long history of inflammatory remarks toward Hindus and India

Zohran Mamdani has repeatedly made controversial statements directed at Hindus and India. In May 2025, during a public event run by New York Focus, he compared Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israeli PM Netanyahu, calling Modi a “war criminal.” That drew sharp criticism from Indo-American leaders, accusing him of sowing hate and discord.

When discussing the 2002 Gujarat riots — where a train carrying 59 Hindu pilgrims was attacked — Mamdani claimed that Modi, then Gujarat’s Chief Minister, helped target Muslims and that Gujarati Muslims are nearly absent. Critics say this is a blatant lie, pointing out that India’s Supreme Court cleared Modi of wrongdoing, and that Gujarat’s Muslim population has in fact grown.

This behavior was not a one-off. In 2020, Mamdani referred to Hindus aligned with Modi’s party as “fascists”, and criticized New York politicians Jennifer Rajkumar and Kevin Thomas for failing to condemn Modi. Rajkumar called his remarks “extreme and divisive.”

During the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Mamdani organized a protest outside the Indian Consulate in New York. He called the temple inauguration a “celebration of the destruction of a mosque” and a “tool of oppression.” Behind him, speakers shouted derogatory remarks about Hindus. The rally was linked to Khalistani groups.

In 2023, when Modi planned a visit to New York, Mamdani again attacked him over the 2002 Gujarat riots. Beyond political opposition, Mamdani has also openly criticized the campaign by Hindus to reclaim Ram’s birthplace in Ayodhya.

In January 2024, Mamdani co-organized and supported protests condemning the consecration of the Ram Mandir, calling it “Hindutva extremism.” He framed the temple not just as a religious symbol but as evidence of “fascism”, equating Hindu religious aspirations with majoritarian violence.

A video from August 2022 went viral: Mamdani appeared to lead a crowd in Times Square that shouted “Who are the Hindus? Harami (Bastards).” The language dehumanized Hindus, and his silence amid it suggested tacit approval. He then pivoted to attacking the Ram Mandir.

Earlier, Mamdani defended the slogan “Globalise the Intifada”, which calls for violence against Jews worldwide. He has also denied Israel’s right to exist — a position common among some Islamist and leftist groups.

His actions have not been limited to rhetoric. In March 2025, together with Assembly members Steven Raga and Karine Reyes, Mamdani co-sponsored bill AB 6920, which would make caste a protected category in New York. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CohNA) strongly opposed it. They warned that the bill would “unfairly target people of South Asian descent or origin, subject them to additional scrutiny, leave them vulnerable to bullying in schools, and deprive them of their fundamental civil rights in the workplace or elsewhere.”

All this comes in the context of the long-standing campaign by anti-Hindu lobbyists in the US to promote caste narratives to malign India and its Hindu community.

Funding from groups critical of India and Hindus

Mamdani’s campaign is also tied to financial backing from organizations known for their anti-India or anti-Hindu stances. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reportedly gave $100,000 to his campaign’s main PAC, New Yorkers for Lower Costs, through its Unity & Justice Fund. This support came in two tranches: $25,000 on 30th May and $75,000 on 16th June 2025.

Other donors include Linda Sarsour, who contributed $2,500 to Unity & Justice Fund, and End the Occupation (linked to anti-Israel activism), which added $1,000. The Truth Project, a New Jersey group accusing Israel of “genocide,” donated $10,000 to New Yorkers for Lower Costs.

Reports also point to non-financial backing from Sunita Vishwanath, co-founder of Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR). HfHR is said to be a George Soros–funded, anti-Hindu group formed in 2019 by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and the Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI).

In September 2025, Hindu scholars, professionals, retired officials, and community leaders issued open letters questioning Mamdani’s suitability as a candidate. One letter was addressed to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, another to Mamdani’s mother, Mira Nair. Both gained wide attention for their pointed language and long lists of signatories.

‘Hindus for Zohran’ is no different from ‘chickens for KFC’

New York’s Hindu community is being urged to think carefully before backing Mamdani — a man who has publicly offended them, used slurs like ‘Harami’, and repeatedly vilified the Indian prime minister. While certain groups like BAPS welcomed him during his pre-poll temple run — presenting it as a sincere outreach — there is no record of him supporting BAPS during past struggles.

His sponsorship of the AB 6920 bill reveals a willingness to undermine Hindu interests in lawmaking. The slogan “Hindus for Zohran for New York City”, critics say, is as illogical as “Chickens for KFC” — an act of giving oneself up.

“Hindus for Zohran for New York City” is like ‘Goats for Bakrid for slaughter’ or ‘Chickens for KFC’.” This blunt analogy sums up the deep skepticism many feel: that Mamdani’s temple visits are strategic optics, not genuine engagement.