Zohran Mamdani / Facebook

Zohran Mamdani’s recent victory as mayor of New York has sent waves of jubilation through sections of the South Asian immigrant community. Many are celebrating him as “one of our own”—a son of immigrants, brown-skinned, eloquent, and culturally familiar.

Social media is flooded with congratulatory messages from South Asians who see themselves reflected in him. But before we join the chorus of celebration, we must stop and ask a fundamental question: Do we actually share Zohran Mamdani’s ideology, beliefs, and vision for the future—or are we merely celebrating him because of his race, skin color, or his occasional visits to a mosque, temple, or gurdwara? Representation means nothing if it comes at the cost of truth, patriotism, and the values that made America the world’s greatest democracy.

The illusion of representation

As immigrants, we naturally feel proud when someone from our community rises to prominence. But not every face that looks like ours represents our values. Mamdani’s radical, far-left agenda is a mirror image of the failed socialist experiments that have destroyed cities from San Francisco to Chicago. We saw the same euphoria years ago when Sadiq Khan became mayor of London.

South Asians everywhere rejoiced—until his tenure revealed what happens when divisive, identity-driven socialism overtakes civic responsibility. Khan’s policies have fractured communities, emboldened radicals, and fostered resentment among ordinary Britons. His obsession with promoting minority symbolism—from street prayers to public Sharia-inspired rhetoric—crossed the fine line between tolerance and provocation.

He forgot that acceptance works both ways. The result? Massive protests in the streets of London demanded to “take the country back,” while crime spiraled and law enforcement weakened. Even King Charles had to intervene publicly as Khan’s politics began to erode respect for British institutions, including the monarchy itself. Is this the model New York City should emulate under Zohran Mamdani? 

A troubling pattern

There are clear and troubling parallels between Zohran Mamdani and Sadiq Khan. Both exhibit a deep skepticism toward the very countries that gave them freedom, opportunity, and power. Both exaggerate racism, preach victimhood, and build their careers on perpetuating grievances rather than gratitude.

America is not a racist country. After 9/11, while emotions ran high, the number of hate crime fatalities targeting minorities has been minimal—fewer than two dozen—and in every instance, the perpetrators faced justice. Compare that to the country where Mamdani was born, Uganda, where hundreds of thousands of minorities were killed and Indians had to flee in large numbers due to a brutal dictator.

Mamdani has never spoken about it. And yet, Mamdani never acknowledges America’s unmatched record of fairness and inclusion. Instead, he fuels resentment, paints America as oppressive, and aligns himself with radicals who despise this nation’s core values. 

What he didn’t say matters most

In his victory speech, Zohran Mamdani quoted Nehru, the first prime minister of India. He could not mention George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, or Ronald Reagan—great Americans who defined liberty, unity, and moral courage. But he didn’t. Not a single reference to America’s founding ideals, heroes, or constitutional spirit. That silence speaks volumes. It’s as if his heart beats for every ideology except the one that defines America. 

Instead, his campaign promises echo the destructive fantasies of the far left—free everything, tax everyone. He advocates rent freezes, government control over private enterprise, and policies that punish success. This isn’t compassion; it’s coercion disguised as progress. 

A warning from London to New York

New York City has long been a liberal stronghold—a place where political correctness outweighs public safety, where lawlessness is excused, and where crime is “reimagined” instead of punished. In such a city, it’s no surprise that someone like Zohran Mamdani found victory. But New Yorkers—and especially immigrants who came here legally, worked hard, and contributed to this great nation—should beware.

We have seen what happens when socialism and identity politics combine: crime surges, police are demonized, taxes skyrocket, and social trust collapses. The parallels between Sadiq Khan’s London and Zohran Mamdani’s New York are too glaring to ignore. Both cities risk becoming laboratories of left-wing extremism, where ideology trumps law and identity trumps unity.

America is still the beacon

Let us remind ourselves: America remains the greatest beacon of peace, freedom, and opportunity in the world. It is the country that gives immigrants like us not only a home but dignity—the right to practice our faiths, celebrate our cultures, and rise through hard work, not handouts.

The lies that they spew that America is racist and President Trump is a dictator.  If both of these lies were true, Mamdani could have never become the mayor of New York City. 

Zohran Mamdani and his brand of politics threaten that balance. His worldview divides Americans into oppressors and victims, undermines faith in the justice system, and replaces gratitude with grievance. If New York becomes the testing ground for his “socialist experiment,” it won’t stop there. It will spread—first to other cities, then to the national stage—unless we, as law-abiding, patriotic immigrants, stand up and say, "Not in our name."

Conclusion: Celebrate wisely, not blindly

Yes, Zohran Mamdani’s win may feel like a victory for representation. But representation without shared values is hollow. We must not celebrate merely because someone looks like us or speaks our language. We must celebrate only when they reflect the values that make America strong—respect for law, faith in hard work, and love for this nation.

Mamdani’s rise is not a triumph of immigrant success; it is a warning. A warning that ideology can hide behind identity, and populism can masquerade as progress. 

Let us not rush into celebrating his victory—because when the glitter fades, New York, and perhaps America itself, may be left to pay the price for his reckless experiment in socialist radicalism.

The author is a naturalized U.S. citizen and the chairman of Sikhs of America, Inc., a leading national organization that promotes the assimilation of Sikh immigrants into American society and highlights over a century of Sikh contributions to the United States.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad.)