With only a month left for the mayoral election, Zojran Mamdani visited the two oldest temples of the city in Flushing, Queens, where he spoke about his Hindu connection. Before his mayoral run, Mamdani was in the news for leading a hate mob in NYC that targeted Ram Mandir. On Sunday, he said the Hindu community has been showcasing what ‘seva’ (service) looks like for decades, oftentimes without any recognition. “I am proud that I would be the first Indian-American mayor of this city. I am proud of the fact that my mother’s family is Hindu. And I grew up with a keen understanding, whilst myself being a Muslim, what Hinduism means. The stories that I learned, the tradition, the faith, the practises, whether it’s Raksha Bandhan, Diwali, Holi…it’s one thing that taught me many of the values that I hold so dear today,” Mamdani said. Mamdani also said that his mother Mira Nair told him that he was named Zohran because it means the first star in the sky.“For Gujaratis, Punjabis, for Indians across the city and the world, I would not be here, were it not the family that raised me and the family that taught me the values, the ideals I hold. Those are values and ideals that make me proud to be an Indian-American,” Mamdani said, adding that the temple safeguarded the freedom of religion not only for the Hindus of New York but all New Yorkers. The mayoral poll is now tilted in favor of Mamdani after he received endorsements from top Democrats, including former VP Kamala Harris, and the exit of Eric Adams from the race. Mamdani and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo are now the frontrunners; Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa is still in the fray.
