Sikh Singer Mistaken for Muslim at Mamdani Inauguration; Ahmediya Conference

The New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani took oath on 1 Jan. His oath-taking ceremony ended with a performance by a Toronto-based Sikh singer Babbu Singh popularly known as Babbulicious. He sang the Panjabi song Gaddi Red Challenger. Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji were also seen grooving to the peppy song. However, the video started drawing hate comments as some netizens mistook the Panjabi singer to be Muslim. Mamdani’s opponents have hit his campaign and election with strong Islamophobia, but a Sikh singer being mistaken for Muslim is a misreading of identities that goes back to the 9/11 attacks in New York. Meanwhile, in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, the Sahibzade Shahadat Diwas (Sovereign’s Sons Martyrdom Day) turned violent on 23 Dec when some Muslims attacked a young man Ramandeep Singh who was on the way to the market near the Gurdwara. The assault followed an argument over comments made during a discussion inside the Gurdwara which held Aurangzeb and Wazir Khan responsible for the martyrdom of the Sahibzade. Ramandeep suffered damage to one eye and is currently undergoing treatment at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. The Nurpur police has arrested two of the accused, Sahil and a juvenile, while the main accused, Munna, son of Zulfkar (no second names given), and another accomplice are still absconding. Earlier on 30 Nov, days after a property sale between Hindu sellers and Muslim buyers in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, meat was found strewn at an under construction Gurdwara. Hindus were objecting to their community's exodus from the city and said the meat was thrown by Muslims which remains unconfirmed. These are some of the predicaments the Sikhs face: in New York it is mistaken identity, in Bijnor it is locals in conflict with recorded history, and in Meerut it is being pushed into corollary damage in a conflict between two other communities. Concurrently, on 27 Dec 2025, thousands of Ahmadiya Muslims congregated at the sect’s headquarters in Qadian, Gurdaspur district of Panjab,for the community’s 130^th annual convention. However, unlike earlier, Ahmadiya Muslims from Pakistan were not allowed to cross the border due to the volatile relations between India and Pakistan (earlier coverage).