Mamdani ‘Refuse to apologize for being Muslim’ quotes Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’
By Anjali Sharma
NEW YORK – Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday in his speech after winning the New York City mayoral elections invoked Jawaharlal Nehru’s iconic 1947 speech, ‘Tryst with Destiny’.
New York City Mayor-designate Zohran Mamdani made a bold statement after his historic victory, declared “I am young, I am Muslim, I am a democratic socialist, and I refuse to apologize for any of this.”
He made remarks shortly after being announced as the winner, scripted a defining moment in the city’s political landscape.
Mamdani cited Nehru’s words from the speech he made on India’s independence: “I’m reminded of Jawaharlal Nehru’s words. A moment comes but rarely in history when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation long suppressed finds utterance. Tonight, New York has done just that. This new era demands clarity, courage, and vision, not excuses,” he spoke to his supporters after being projected as the winner.
Zohran Mamdani got 50.4 per cent of the vote, defeated Trump-favoured Democratic opponent Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Silwa.
US President Donald Trump was not happy about the Democrats’ victories in the latest polls and shared a post on Truth Social claimed that the Republicans lost as he was not on the ballot.
“TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,” according to pollsters, he posted on Truth Social.
Mamdani assemblyman from Queens campaigned, emphasized making the city more affordable in his poll promise, proposing a rent freeze on stabilized units, construction of 200,000 public housing units, universal childcare, tuition-free education, fare-free buses, and city-run grocery stores. His manifesto earned him strong public support. He also advocated raising the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030, funded through higher taxes on millionaires and corporations.
Mamdani pledged to shift police resources towards community services and strengthen public transport and bike infrastructure.
