New York City Mayor Eric Adams found himself in hot water after accidentally conflating India with Pakistan during an Indian Independence Day celebration event in Queens. The gaffe occurred on Saturday, August 12th, at the 9th India Day Parade in Queens while Adams was addressing members of the Indian-American community.
During his speech, Adams mistakenly referred to India as Pakistan three times. He stated, “We raised the flag earlier this week at Bowling Green…And I think no greater symbol of what you offer to this community than the men and women who are part of the law enforcement community, who are here, the Pakistani officers, who are continuing to grow in their numbers and ranks as they continue to show that public safety is the prerequisite to our prosperity.”
He continued, “…So I thank you for allowing me to come here. I’ve known this community for so long, from little Pakistan and Queens, little Pakistan and Brooklyn, you are a major foundation of our entire city. So let’s continue to celebrate your independence.”
The event was clearly an Indian Independence Day celebration, with attendees waving Indian flags, adorned in tricolour attire, and the stage decorated with Indian flags and tricolour balloons. It was evident that the celebration was dedicated to India’s independence, making the Mayor’s repeated mistakes even more baffling.
Further highlighting the confusion, a member of the crowd attempted to correct Adams, stating, “India”, “It’s India”. However, the Mayor seemingly remained unaware of the error.
It’s worth noting that the day prior, Adams had addressed a flag-raising ceremony at the same venue for Pakistan’s Independence Day. This might explain the mix-up, but it does not excuse the significant error in judgment and the disrespect shown towards the Indian community.
India’s Independence Day is celebrated on August 15th, while Pakistan’s Independence Day is observed on August 14th. The distinct dates and the clear context of the event make the Mayor’s repeated misidentification of India as Pakistan highly noticeable and regrettable.
