India has responded to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s note to jailed activist Umar Khalid, stressing that public representatives must respect the independence of the judiciary in other democracies. The government said expressing personal views on ongoing legal matters does not suit those holding public office.
New Delhi: India on Friday reacted to a note written by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to jailed activist Umar Khalid, and said that public representatives should respect the independence of the judiciary in other democratic countries.
Mamdani, who is of Indian origin, had written a handwritten note expressing solidarity with Khalid after meeting the activist’s parents in the United States in December. In the note, Mamdani referred to Khalid’s thoughts on bitterness and spoke about the
“importance of not letting it consume oneself”.
The note later came into public discussion, drawing a response from the Indian government.
When asked about the issue during the weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made India’s position clear.
He said,
“We expect public representatives to be respectful of the independence of the judiciary in other democracies.”
He further added,
“Expressing personal prejudices does not behove those in office. Instead of such comments, it would be better to focus on the responsibilities entrusted to them.”
Umar Khalid has been in jail since September 2020 after being arrested by the Delhi Police. He has repeatedly been denied bail. Khalid was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the February 2020 violence in northeast Delhi.
The clashes took place between supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act and those opposing the law. The violence left 53 people dead and hundreds injured or displaced. According to the police, the riots were part of a larger conspiracy aimed at defaming the central government.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court of India refused to grant bail to Khalid as well as Sharjeel Imam, another activist accused in the same case.
The top court’s decision has once again brought national and international attention to the prolonged incarceration of the accused and the ongoing legal proceedings linked to the 2020 Delhi riots.
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