Our Bureau
Queens, NYC
In a noticeable gaffe, New York City Mayor Eric Adams mistakenly referred to India and its diaspora community as ‘Pakistan’ while he was addressing the Indian-American community at the Queens 9th India Day Parade.
Decorated with Indian flags, tri-colored balloons and banners that read ‘Mayor Adams Celebrates the Indian Community’, he said, “ I have known this community for so long from little Pakistan in Brooklyn and Queens, you are a major foundation of our entire city.”
At this point, someone from the crowd was heard shouting “India”, “It’s India”.
Holding the Indian flag himself, he continued, “When I became the Mayor, I wanted to make sure that I lived upto the community as you believe in family, public safety, small businesses, faith. I think no greater symbol of what you offer to this community than the men and women who contribute to the law enforcement and the Pakistanis who are in office and who continue to grow…”
The Mayor had attended a flag-raising ceremony at Bowling Green Park in lower Manhattan on August 15 to mark India’s independence day. While a day earlier, he had addressed the flag-raising ceremony on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence day at the same venue.
