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This episode of Newstrack covers Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. At 33, Mamdani is set to become the first Muslim and Indian-origin mayor of NYC.
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00:00My name is Assemblymember Zahran Mamdani and I am running to make the city affordable.
00:07Radical or progressive.
00:09Free, free, free Palestine.
00:11Free, free, free Palestine.
00:13Free, free Palestine.
00:17Unrealistic or charismatic.
00:20I believe we can freeze the rent for more than 2 million tenants and build hundreds of thousands of affordable homes.
00:30New York's millennial mayoral candidate.
00:39Zohran Mamdani triggers political row.
00:44Fierce backlash after astonishing win.
00:51Trump calls him 100% communist lunatic.
01:00New York City braces for first Indian-American mayor.
01:06Mamdani mayoral divide.
01:08That is our top focus on Newstrak.
01:11Good evening.
01:17You're watching Newstrak here in India today.
01:19I'm Akshita Anandakopal.
01:2033-year-old Zohran Mamdani is all set to be the next New York City mayor.
01:26There's a lot of talk about him.
01:28He is young.
01:28Yes, at 33, all set to become the mayor of this massive city like New York.
01:33He's also, of course, been making headlines because of some of his rather controversial viewpoints.
01:39He's had a very unique campaign, hitting the road, speaking to people.
01:42But also, with that, put forth some rather radical views.
01:46For example, as part of a campaign for New York City to be the mayor of New York City.
01:51Why does an issue like India, or for that matter, what he thinks about the Modi government, actually feature?
01:56We're going to be talking about that and why there's such a big divide over Zohran Mamdani.
02:01I'm Akshita Anandakopal.
02:02Let's begin with the headlines.
02:08Group captain Shubhansha Shukla is the first Indian at the International Space Station.
02:1414-day space day, 60 experiments next for the AX4 crew.
02:19India refuses to sign SEO document for no mention of the Pahalgaam terror attack.
02:30Joint statement mentioned Balochistan unveiled attempt to accuse India of causing unrest.
02:41Four killed in Himachal monsoon mayhem.
02:43Kulu Valley hit by four cloudbursts in 24 hours.
02:47Several missing as dam discharges swell rivers.
02:56New U.S. visa diktat kicks in.
02:58Full information on social media footprint now necessary.
03:02Applicants must reveal usernames and handles used in the last five years.
03:06Non-compliance will lead to visa rejection and even blacklisting.
03:10In first appearance since U.S. strike, Iran's supreme leader Khamenei says Trump ordered strikes were to force surrender while big revenge.
03:24U.S. presents photos of nukesite strike to counter the no damage claim.
03:29So Indian-American Zoran Mamdani has defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo to be the Democratic candidate for New York City for the mayoral election.
03:44Which essentially means that given the Democratic foothold in the city, his win in the November election, few months away from that, seems to be near certain.
03:54He's on track to become the first Muslim, the first Indian origin mayor in New York City's history.
04:01So that could have stood for so much.
04:03He could have scripted history for all the right reasons.
04:05What do you see instead?
04:07Rather radical views being presented by Mamdani in the run-up to his campaign, all of which is now going viral.
04:14His triumph represents more than just an electoral win.
04:16It also reflects the space, some say, for progressive politics in a city known for its entrenched power structures.
04:23Others say that it reflects radical viewpoints that puts a spotlight on Mamdani's views on rather controversial issues.
04:31There's been, in fact, a lot of talk about Mamdani.
04:34It's created a divide right from D.C. all the way to Delhi.
04:38So why is this such a strong opinion about Mamdani in India too?
04:43Well, it's because Mamdani's mother, Meera Nair, is an Indian.
04:47But beyond that, also in the course of this campaign, there are several of his comments that have been made about what's happening in India.
04:54About Narendra Modi, about the Modi government.
04:57That's all grabbed headlines.
04:59And so that's led to a lot of outrage in India too.
05:02It's not just the right wing.
05:03Even you've got Congress leaders like Abhishek Manu Singh, we're saying that he's part of a Pakistan PR team.
05:10Details in this report first.
05:13Tonight, we made history.
05:16In the words of Nelson Mandela, it always seems impossible until it is done.
05:26New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's Democratic mayoral primary win has triggered deep political tremors, both in the United States and nearly 8,000 miles away in India.
05:42U.S. President Donald Trump launched a furious attack on Zohran Mamdani, calling him 100% communist lunatic, and declared that him being on his way to becoming New York City mayor was ridiculous.
05:54Maga supporters have been sharing edited pictures of the Statue of Liberty wearing a burqa after Mamdani won New York City's Democratic mayoral primary.
06:04From D.C. to Delhi, Zohran Mamdani has united both the ruling dispensation and the opposition in India.
06:11BJP MP Kangana Ranaut took a Hinduism jab at Mamdani, declaring that he sounds more Pakistani than Indian.
06:20The actor-turned-politician also shared an old video where Mamdani was reigning anti-Hindu slogans.
06:26Satsarikal Ji, my name is Zohran Kwame Mamdani. I am a candidate for New York State Assembly District 36, Astoria, Dipmar Steinway, Astoria Heights.
06:36I'm here today to protest against the BJP government in India and the demolition of the Babri Masjid in the attempt to build a mandir on top of the ruins of it.
06:45Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singh, we also echoed Kangana's opinion.
06:50He slammed 33-year-old Mamdani, stating that when Zohran Mamdani opens his mouth, Pakistan's PR team takes the day off.
06:58Brothers and sisters, there are only 20 days left in this election and the choice is under me and Andrew Comer.
07:06While Zohran Mamdani has been cashing in on his desi roots, his controversial comments on Prime Minister Modi.
07:14My father, his family comes from Gujarat in India and his family is Muslim, I'm Muslim.
07:19And Narendra Modi helped to orchestrate what was a mass slaughter of Muslims in Gujarat to the extent that we don't even believe there are Gujarati Muslims anymore.
07:26And when I tell someone that I am, it's a shock to them that that is even the case.
07:31And his hot takes on the Babri demolition and the Ram Mandir have earned him the tag of a foreign meddler pushing propaganda from the Indian right wing.
07:41Zohran Mamdani, son of Indian-American filmmaker Meera Nair, is a 33-year-old self-declared socialist who's backed by the Democratic Socialists of America Party.
07:52His New York mayoral candidature is seen as crucial for the future of the Democratic Party.
07:59Bureau Report, India Today.
08:01So a lot of thoughts, of course, that are coming in, different viewpoints on Zohran Mamdani and the kind of comments that he's made,
08:13which we've shown you a glimpse of, social media posts also now showing the Statue of Liberty in Aburka
08:20to kind of indicate that this is where New York City is headed.
08:23This is what's happened to New York City.
08:24Trump calling him a 100% communist lunatic, saying that Mamdani doesn't look good and he doesn't speak well either.
08:32These are the kind of comments that Donald Trump has had to offer on Mamdani.
08:36Let me bring in Gaurav Sawant on this broadcast for more.
08:39Gaurav, let's talk about what's happening in India and the controversy that's triggered,
08:43particularly the comment that we showed in our report of what Mamdani had to say about Narendra Modi, the 2002 riots.
08:49But when he speaks about how Gujarat has no Muslim, says people are surprised when I say that, you know,
08:55I'm a Gujarati Muslim because they don't exist anymore.
08:58That's obviously just him trying to peddle a certain narrative.
09:01Having said that, Gaurav, the question really is why do you think Mamdani is making these kind of comments about India?
09:06What's the relevance to a New York mayoral election?
09:09How does it cater to any vote bank?
09:12Zohran Mamdani has emerged as a rather controversial candidate in the New York mayoral elections.
09:18Now, he has won the Democratic primaries.
09:21He was the Democratic candidate as of now.
09:24But his statements, I mean, even U.S. President Donald Trump has gone to the extent of saying that he's 100% communist lunatic.
09:32Now, Donald Trump, of course, isn't also interested because he himself comes from New York.
09:36So he's more interested in what Zohran Mamdani has been saying all along.
09:41But some of his statements like globalization of intifada or asking or making comments like he comes from Gujarat or his father comes from Gujarat and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of massacre of Muslims or words to the effect that there are no Muslims left in Gujarat.
09:58It's absolutely bizarre, nowhere close to truth.
10:03But at the same time, he's doing this, as some analysts argue, to reach out to the Muslim vote bank in the United States of America.
10:12He's very deliberately playing his Muslim identity.
10:16So it's that Muslim identity politics more than either Indian identity or South Asian identity that he's playing at.
10:23And look at the reaction even in India that you have both Congress leaders, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and BJP leader Kangana Ranaut responding and reacting to his statements.
10:34Hindu Americans in the United States of America as a group, they are rather alarmed by some of the statements he's made.
10:41The Republicans, in some ways, some analysts argue they're very happy that the moment he makes more such statements,
10:49even the centrist amongst the Democrats will be, you know, drawn towards the Republicans and will not vote for somebody like him,
10:58who talks about globalization of intifada in New York, which has incidentally the largest number of Jews living there.
11:06But you also have, as some analysts in the United States say, leaders like Ilhan Omar, you know, that lobby would be very happy with statements like this.
11:15So it remains to be seen, does Mamdani now moderate his statements in the times ahead or pursues the same agenda,
11:23takes it forward, hoping to cash in on the minority votes there and the Asian vote or the expat votes.
11:33It just remains to be seen how this is, you know, followed through in the months ahead.
11:39But he has made elections extremely interesting, considering there are reactions coming in,
11:44not just from the American president, but from perhaps across the world.
11:49You know, it's clearly interesting times in America.
11:52You've got Trump on one hand, Mamdani, who has all of the opposing views to Trump on the other,
11:58now all set to become the mayor.
11:59He's got a few months, of course.
12:01November is when the election happens, but the decks more or less seem clear for him to become the next mayor,
12:07considering that New York City has always gone the Democrats' way.
12:10And with him being chosen, with him winning that primary,
12:13it seems clear that now New York City is getting a 33-year-old mayor.
12:17This could be a first for so many great reasons.
12:19The fact that you'll see a first Muslim mayor, the fact that you'll see the first Indian-origin mayor.
12:25And yet, it's become controversial because of the kind of comments that Mamdani has made in the course of his campaign.
12:31Even what he said on Israel, on Gaza, on Palestine, has deeply, deeply divided America.
12:37Gaurav, thanks for those details.
12:38Let's also talk about some of those controversies.
12:41What Mamdani stands for?
12:43Why is it that right now he is the chosen one for the people of New York?
12:48His opponents, Cuomo and several other major Democrats, actually mocked Mamdani's campaign
12:54because he spoke of free public buses, he spoke of city-run grocery shops.
13:00All of this, Andrew Cuomo and many others deemed as unrealistic, dismissed him,
13:04said he stands no chance, and that it's simply not practical to have free public buses,
13:10to have city-run grocery shops.
13:11But after this unprecedented upset, the blue camp has been left to wonder
13:15whether Mamdani's win actually warrants for a shift of the direction for the Democratic Party
13:21and what really this means for them in an American election in a few years from now.
13:26Take a look at what really Mamdani campaigned on, his policies, what he stands for,
13:31why he's the new darling of the people of New York.
13:33Too radical, too unrealistic, and even too socialist.
13:42Zoran Mamdani!
13:46Defying all these unflattering invectives hurled at him,
13:50Zoran Mamdani is on track to be New York City's next mayor.
13:55Let's go!
13:55His astonishing underdog victory in the Democratic primary
14:00has thrown the global spotlight on rather unconventional campaign.
14:04You have Brian Nichol, who's making more than $113 million...
14:09To begin with, at a time of unprecedented income inequality,
14:14Mamdani has demanded that the rich start paying their fair share of taxes.
14:18Mamdani claims the taxes will give him the revenue he needs
14:24to make public transportation free,
14:27freeze rent hikes on apartments,
14:29and establish city-owned grocery stores.
14:33All of these ideas have one thing in common.
14:36They are what the working class wants.
14:39This is the voter group that has long felt alienated by the Democratic Party.
14:44My name is Assemblymember Zoran Mamdani,
14:46and I am running to make the city affordable.
14:49I'll freeze the rent for millions of tenants,
14:51make buses fast and free,
14:52and deliver universal childcare.
14:54And before you ask, I'll pay for it by taxing the rich.
14:59Mamdani's victory appears to be a result of his powerful, charismatic messaging,
15:04but it was built on people's power.
15:08He grew his base with grassroots campaigning on the streets of New York,
15:13addressing issues, both economic and moral,
15:16that directly impact the lives of the people.
15:19Mamdani also did not run away from the moral issue
15:22that is troubling millions in New York and around the country,
15:26the need to end U.S. military support for Israel.
15:30His progressive politics transcends beyond New York.
15:33It is focused on upholding the humanity of all people, including Palestinians.
15:39I have strived to ensure that my language is driven by fact.
15:43And what we have found is that so many experts on the term itself
15:48and on the history of the use of that term
15:50have found it to be a correct application.
15:52And so I do not disagree in that this is a highly charged issue
15:56and the use of the term,
15:57but I do believe it is the most accurate description of what is going on.
16:01And what we have also found is that a majority of Democrats
16:03believe that that is the correct term.
16:05So it in fact does reflect what, by and large,
16:09people are seeing when they see more than 40,000 Palestinians having been killed.
16:12Despite opponents attacking him for his position on Palestine,
16:18he refused to flip to appease critics.
16:21Facing a mountain of opposition from major Democrats too,
16:24the 33-year-old legislator pulled off an incredible upset
16:28by defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo in a mayoral primary.
16:33With a mayoral victory almost assured in a city that overwhelmingly leans blue,
16:38the question is, will Mamdani's unconventionally inclusive politics
16:43make an impact beyond New York?
16:46Bureau Report, India Today.
16:52So a millennial like Mamdani is all set to become the New York City mayor.
16:58Who is Mamdani? How has he reached this particular level?
17:02He is the son of Meera Nair.
17:04Very, very popular filmmaker.
17:06Think Monsoon, Wedding, think the namesake.
17:08She has made, of course, so many award-winning films.
17:11He is her son, so the Indian roots right there,
17:15but he's lived in New York almost all of his life,
17:17from when he was seven years old.
17:19So he is very much an American.
17:22He's chosen, of course, to take his father's religion of Islam,
17:26and his father is a Ugandan.
17:29But he, as I said, is an American.
17:31But here's what's interesting about Mamdani.
17:33He's had a very, very different trajectory, if you will.
17:36He's been a housing counsellor, he's a hip-hop artist, he's been a rapper.
17:40And several of his YouTube videos are now going viral.
17:45Mamdani clearly is not your typical politician.
17:47At 33, he's making history and headlines for the kind of politics that he speaks of,
17:52for his controversial views,
17:54but also equally for his viral rap tracks,
17:58some of which have been featured in his mother's films.
18:01As I wrap up this edition of Newstruck,
18:04the biggest highlight of the day for every Indian has been
18:08Group Captain Shubhan Shushukla making it to the International Space Station.
18:12Ladies and gentlemen, we've got our first Indian ever in the ISS,
18:17the International Space Station.
18:19This moment there is the mission commander, Peggy Whitson,
18:23handing over Shubhan Shushukla, his astronaut pin.
18:26Essentially a symbolic message and a gesture
18:29that shows that he is now an astronaut officially.
18:32It's his first time in space,
18:34which is why he's been handed over that pin
18:36in what was a rather simple ceremony
18:39that took place on board the ISS during a welcome party.
18:42Here are all the highlights of the docking that took place
18:45and the moment Shubhan Shushukla first entered the ISS scripting history.
18:49I'm leaving you with this report.
18:51Thanks for watching.
18:51Good night.
18:56What are you doing?
18:58Docking.
19:01For an entire generation of space fans,
19:04the word docking represented a sci-fi fantasy
19:07straight from the universe of a Christopher Nolan movie.
19:15But what is real for us is real for Shukz.
19:19As 400 kilometers above us,
19:21Group Captain Subhan Shushukla helmed his SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
19:25through one of the most crucial maneuvers across its mission.
19:30Docking with the International Space Station
19:33at 4.01 p.m. Indian Standard Time.
19:41Dragon contact and soft capture complete.
19:45Group Captain Subhan Shushukla or Shukz
19:47as he's fondly known by his team
19:49played a vital role for docking
19:51at the International Space Station.
19:54As the mission pilot,
19:56Subhan Shushukla monitored the trajectory,
19:58orbital parameters and the movement of the space station
20:02while Dragon prepared to dock.
20:04A rendezvous with the International Space Station.
20:06It is a privilege to be amongst the few
20:09who have got the chance to see the Earth from a vantage point
20:12that I have been able to see now.
20:15It has been a wonderful ride.
20:16It has been great.
20:17And I was looking forward to come to space.
20:20You know, it is something to look forward to as such.
20:23But the minute I entered the International Space Station
20:25and you guys,
20:27this crew,
20:27you just made me feel so welcome
20:29as if you literally opened your doors,
20:31like your house doors for us.
20:33That's true.
20:34So, but it was fantastic.
20:35For Subhan Shushukla's parents,
20:39it was yet another moment of pride and joy.
20:41I was looking forward to it.
21:11It is important that it has helped us with our children.
21:17We appreciate all the people who have well visited our children.
21:22Now that the docking is successful, the Exeom 4 crew will carry out around 60 experiments regarding microgravity.
21:30Of this, Subhan Shushukla is listed to perform around 7 experiments.
21:35The next two weeks will be a landmark period for the only second Indian in space as Shuks and his team on board the International Space Station carry on their mission comprising of science, outreach and commercial activities.
21:51As Neil Armstrong would say, it is a small step for man, but a giant leap for Indian space exploration.
21:59Bureau Report, India Today.
22:06Department of Water
22:07AĂ©pel
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