An unflinching 'Marxist lunatic'

Back in 1967, the communists came into power in the Indian state of Kerala via the route of parliamentary democracy, implicitly shunning Marxian concept of revolution. It was a history in many respects. Though the comparison may be bizzarre, yet another so called ‘communist’ is all poised to creating a history in the United States by becoming the first immigrant Muslim Mayor of New York city.  Zohran Mahmood Kwame Mamdani’s seismic win in the Democratic mayoral primary has been the talk of the country for the last two weeks. Not alone in the US but also around the world. Why so much uproar over his candidacy? The under currents of an immigrant, and that too a Muslim becomeing the mayor of New York City are much deeper.  This is one thing unimaginable for a white supremacist dispensation and a country racially divided for centuries. The other is related to the Middle East war. A die-hard supporter of Palestine cause, Mamdani has become a nightmare for right wing nationalists across US and Israel.

The defiant Mamdani has sent shock waves across right wing political circles. Its not only his socialist ideology, but his uncompromising position against Israel and the inhuman treatment of immigrants in US have in effect thrown down the gauntlet to the Republicans, and in particular Trump himself. Now the White house is all on its way seeking ways and means to revoke his citizenship. Apart from the questions of leftist ideology and immigration, the traits of being a Muslim and an immigrant still haunt his candidacy.  What matters is not just the politics but his identity too.  Many of the rightwing politicians even portrayed him as a Muslim extremist or jihadist, the stereotype in the western lexicon to put someone in a box.

Mamdani's unflinching stance on Israeli aggression has also drawn much criticism. To him, the Israeli regime is committing nothing short of a genocide in Gaza. His slogan, Globalise Intifada has raised much hue and cry amongst the backers of Zionist regime in the US and Israel. Remember, New York city has the largest Jewish population in the US. The ultra nationalists branded him as 'anti-semitic'.  Further,  when asked about what he would do if Benjamin Netanyahu visits New York, he said he would arrest him. Needless to say, Isreal and the Jewish population in New York are much worried about Mamdani’s candidacy as it is mostly a Democrat city and the chances of Mamdani winning is very high in the November election.

Interestingly,  in India the right wing Hindu nationalists are not much happy either with the developments in New York. Though Mamdani is the son of Mira Nair, the director of Mississippi Masala, is an Indian.  Minus his leftist leanings,  and his Muslim name,  his Indian origin would have been otherwise celebrated. But his paternal Muslim background is something unacceptable to the right-wing Hindu party workers. Kangana Ranaut, a BJP MP, described Mamdani as more Pakistani than Indian. A pro BJP news channel Aaj Tak aired a programme claiming that Mamdani received fund from anti-India organizations. The ire of BJP camp has something to do with Mamdani’s views on Gujrat riots of 2002. He openly criticized Prime Minister Modi in a function held in New York. He expressed his strong reservation against the demolition of Babari Masjid. Also, the Hindu nationalist organizations invariably support Isreal. It’s more ideological than political.

One thing is clear as black and white. There is no ambiguity or double standard in Mamdani’s political stand like the stand taken by Democrat stalwarts Joe Biden or Barak Obama.  At least  that is how it feels now.  Both Biden and Obama were not explicit in their policies on Isreal. This young immigrant is vociferous against Israeli invasion and Trump’s authoritarianism. And of course, that has created a new history in US politics.