BJP Slams Zohran Mamdani Over Note to Umar Khalid, Calls It Interference in India’s Affairs
The BJP says support for jailed activist Umar Khalid by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani amounts to external meddling in India’s internal matters.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on January 2, 2026, strongly criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for writing a supportive note to Umar Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student activist who is currently in jail in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case.
Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused Mamdani of interfering in India’s internal affairs. He questioned the mayor’s right to comment on India’s democratic system and judicial process.
Bhatia said that supporting an accused person and commenting on India’s internal matters would not be tolerated. He described Umar Khalid as someone who seeks to harm the nation and added that any challenge to India’s sovereignty would unite the country’s people under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also stressed that the BJP has complete faith in India’s independent judiciary.
The controversy began after Khalid’s partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri, shared a photo of Mamdani’s handwritten note on social media platform X. In the note, Mamdani wrote that he often reflected on Khalid’s thoughts about bitterness and the importance of not letting it take over one’s life. He also mentioned that it was a pleasure meeting Khalid’s parents and that many people were thinking of him.
According to reports, Mamdani handed over the note to Khalid’s parents during their visit to the United States in December 2025. Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian-origin mayor on January 1, 2026.
Umar Khalid has been in custody since September 2020. He has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being part of a conspiracy behind the February 2020 North-East Delhi riots. The violence claimed 53 lives and left more than 700 people injured. Under UAPA, securing bail is difficult, as the accused must show that the case against them is prima facie false.
The issue has gained further attention after eight US lawmakers recently urged the Indian government to grant Khalid bail and ensure a fair trial according to international standards. The BJP has described these developments as attempts at external interference.
Several other groups, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad, have also condemned Mamdani’s gesture, calling it inappropriate and an intrusion into India’s internal matters.
