American singer Mary Millben has publicly described New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a “radical” on the “wrong path,” accusing him of aligning with a socialist movement that, in her view, does not reflect American democratic values. Her remarks came in response to Mamdani’s opposition to the New York visit of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, who is scheduled to address a gathering on 29 August centred on themes of oneness and unity.

Millben’s Criticism of Mamdani

“He is a radical, you know, that’s what this DSA movement is,” Millben said, referring to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). “There’s just a bunch of radicals who don’t understand how the world works. They don’t understand how America works, and they certainly don’t understand how New York works. He doesn’t.”

Millben argued that the core of the controversy lay in Mamdani’s association with the DSA, which she described as “a democratic socialist organisation in the United States that is a part of the Democratic Party.” She noted that she has several Democratic friends in elected office who do not subscribe to the socialist movement’s agenda, drawing a distinction between mainstream Democrats and Mamdani’s faction.

The RSS Visit and the Broader Political Context

Mamdani’s opposition to Bhagwat’s New York visit triggered Millben’s public remarks. She contended that Mamdani’s criticism was not solely directed at the RSS chief but extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and what he represents in the context of India and religious freedom. “They were not necessarily directed towards the RSS chief; they were directed towards Prime Minister Modi and what the Prime Minister represents in the context of India, religious freedom,” she said.

The DSA describes itself as a political and activist organisation working toward a more democratic economy, operating alongside the Democratic Party through electoral politics, labour organising, and social campaigns rather than as a standalone national party.

A Backhanded Compliment

Despite her sharp criticism, Millben stopped short of writing Mamdani off entirely. She described him as “a talented young man” who is “misguided” and “in the wrong hands within his own party.”

“If Mamdani was in the right hands in the Democratic Party, if he had a better understanding of the way the world works and the way America works, the way New York works, then I think that he could have a great future, to be honest, because he has talent,” she said.

Millben urged Mamdani to reconsider both his political associations and the rhetoric in his speeches. “Hopefully he’ll wake up and realise the talking points that he’s regurgitating in his speeches,” she said, calling his current trajectory “a destructive path.”

Who Is Mary Millben

Millben is well known to Indian audiences for her renditions of Jana Gana Mana and the devotional hymn Om Jai Jagdish Hare. She has appeared at events connected to India and the Indian diaspora and has publicly expressed support for Prime Minister Modi. Her comments carry particular resonance within India-US diaspora circles given her cultural ties to both countries.

With Bhagwat’s 29 August gathering in New York approaching, the political debate around Mamdani’s stance is likely to intensify in the days ahead.