India Urges Respect for Judicial Independence After Zohran Mamdani’s Letter to Umar Khalid
External Affairs Ministry responds to New York Mayor’s outreach to jailed anti-CAA activist
New Delhi (Fikrokhabar News): The Indian government has reacted strongly to a letter written by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to jailed activist Umar Khalid, stating that elected representatives are expected to respect the independence of the judiciary in other democratic nations.
Responding to questions during a press briefing on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that public office holders should refrain from expressing personal opinions on judicial matters of another country. “Expressing personal prejudices does not behove those in office,” he said, adding that leaders should instead focus on their official responsibilities.
The response came after it emerged earlier this month that Mamdani had sent a handwritten letter to Umar Khalid in December. On January 1, Khalid’s friends, including his partner Banojyotsna Lahiri, shared on social media that the letter was delivered to Khalid’s parents during their visit to the United States.
In the letter, Mamdani wrote about reflecting on Khalid’s thoughts on bitterness and resilience, mentioned meeting his parents, and concluded by expressing solidarity and support.
Umar Khalid, a former student activist, is one of several human rights defenders, student leaders, and Muslim activists accused in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi violence. He was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and has remained in jail for nearly six years without the trial commencing.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court denied bail to Khalid and another activist, Sharjeel Imam, while granting bail to five other accused in the same case. The court stated that Khalid and Imam could renew their bail pleas after all protected witnesses are examined or after one year.
This is not the first time Mamdani has publicly spoken about Khalid. In 2023, before becoming New York City mayor, Mamdani read excerpts from Khalid’s writings at a “Howdy, Democracy?!” event in New York. The event took place ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city, when Mamdani was serving as a member of the New York State Assembly.
At the event, Mamdani described Khalid as a scholar and former Jawaharlal Nehru University student activist, highlighting his work against lynching and hate crimes, and noting his prolonged detention without trial.
The Indian government’s remarks underline its position that judicial proceedings are internal matters and should not be commented upon by foreign public officials.
