New York: New York City's Democratic Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, in his Diwali Day speech, explained why is he so critical of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing the Indian American at an event organized to celebrate Diwali in Queens, New York City, Zohran Mamdani said he is critical of PM Modi and BJP, the party he belongs to, because their policies are against the pluralistic ethos of India.
Mamdani, whose parents have Indian roots, said India under Modi and the BJP is not the one where he grew up.
“I've 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”, he said addressing the Indian Americans in New York.
“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”, he added.
“It's part of a belief that pluralism is something to be celebrated, something to be strived for”, Mamdani said.
With an estimated 339,000 residents, New York City is home to the largest Indian American population of any city in North America. A good number of them are the BJP and Modi supporters. This, however, has on decline ever since Donald Trump came to power in 2020 and his relationship with PM Modi turned sour.
Keeping in mind this fact, Zohran Mamdani said the Indian Americans in New York may differ with his views and he respects this.
“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”, he said.
“I will look to represent them all the same because my responsibility is to them as New Yorkers to ensure that they are safe, to ensure that they can afford this city, and to ensure that they are not just protected, but are celebrated in that same city. In many ways, it's the lesson I've learned of being a part”, Mamdani said.
