BJP Condemns New York Mayor for Interfering in India's Affairs

BJP's Response to Mayor Mamdani's Note

On Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for allegedly meddling in India's domestic matters after he sent a note to imprisoned activist Umar Khalid.

During a press briefing, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia asserted that the nation would not accept any external support for individuals accused of crimes or comments on India's internal issues.

“Every Indian has unwavering trust in our judicial system,” he stated. “Who is anyone outside our country to challenge our democracy and judiciary, especially in favor of someone who seeks to fragment India? This is unacceptable...”

While Bhatia refrained from directly naming Mamdani or Khalid, he also accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of associating with groups abroad that aim to tarnish India's reputation and propagate misinformation about the country.

On Thursday, Khalid's partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri, revealed on social media that Mamdani had sent a handwritten note to Khalid, which was delivered to his parents during their visit to the U.S. in December.

In his note, Mamdani expressed that he often reflected on Khalid's thoughts regarding bitterness and the significance of not allowing it to take over one's life.

“We are all thinking of you,” the note concluded.

Lahiri shared this note on social media coinciding with Mamdani's inauguration as New York's mayor.

She mentioned that Khalid's parents, Sahiba Khanam and Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, were in the U.S. to visit one of their daughters ahead of a family wedding, as reported by a media outlet.

Earlier in 2023, Mamdani had read excerpts from a letter written by Khalid at a New York event, where the activist discussed the importance of not succumbing to bitterness regarding his situation.

Khalid was detained by the Delhi Police in September 2020.

He faces charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act related to the violent clashes in February 2020 between supporters of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act and its opponents in North East Delhi, which resulted in 53 fatalities and numerous injuries, predominantly among Muslims.

The police allege that the violence was orchestrated as part of a broader conspiracy to undermine the Narendra Modi administration, allegedly planned by those who organized protests against the amended Citizenship Act.

Khalid was granted temporary bail from December 16 to December 29 to attend his sister's wedding.

On Tuesday, U.S. Congressman James P. McGovern and seven other lawmakers expressed their concerns in a letter to the Indian Ambassador, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, regarding the extended pre-trial detention of individuals charged in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots, including Khalid.

The letter pointed out that human rights organizations, legal experts, and international media have raised questions about the fairness of the investigation and legal proceedings. They noted that independent inquiries by rights groups found no evidence linking Khalid to terrorist activities.

It emphasized that Khalid has not been convicted of any crime, yet the pre-trial conditions he faces are punitive in nature.