The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp rebuke on Friday against New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani for expressing solidarity with activist Umar Khalid, who remains incarcerated for over five years in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. The party asserted that an outsider has no right to question India's democratic institutions or judiciary.
BJP's Strong Condemnation of External Commentary
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia addressed the media, delivering a forceful response to Mayor Mamdani's widely reported handwritten letter to Khalid. "If any person supports an accused, comments on India’s internal affairs, then India will not tolerate it," Bhatia stated. He questioned the legitimacy of an external figure weighing in on domestic matters, asking, "Who is an outsider to question our democracy and judiciary, not the least offering support for someone who wants to break India?"
The party's strong words were also directed at certain US lawmakers who have echoed calls for Khalid's release. Furthermore, the BJP accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of meeting with "enemies" of the nation and acting as a "force-multiplier" for voices it deems "anti-India."
The Controversial Letter and Political Backdrop
Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist of Indian descent, penned a personal note to Umar Khalid, which has particularly incensed the BJP given the mayor's past criticisms of the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the letter, Mamdani referenced a meeting with Khalid's parents, writing, "I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume one’s self. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you."
Khalid's father, S.Q.R. Ilyas, is associated with the Welfare Party of India and is a prominent member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. He was formerly linked to the now-banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
BJP's scrutiny of Mamdani is heightened by New York's significant South Asian Muslim diaspora, which was a crucial voting bloc in his successful mayoral campaign. Muslims, estimated to be 7% of registered voters, are believed to have cast about 15% of the total votes in last year's election.
Legal Charges and Ideological Allegations
Umar Khalid has been charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, and various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The allegations posit that he was a key conspirator behind the February 2020 Delhi riots, which resulted in widespread violence and loss of life.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya also responded, drawing connections between Mamdani's actions. On social media platform X, Malviya pointed out that soon after taking office, Mamdani appointed Ramzi Kassem as New York City's Chief Counsel—a lawyer who once defended a client in an Al-Qaeda-related terrorism case. "This is not coincidence. It is ideological clarity. Join the dots," Malviya wrote, linking the appointment to the letter for Khalid.
Concluding the party's stance, spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia emphasized national unity on matters of sovereignty, declaring, "If it comes to India’s sovereignty, then 140 crore Indians will stand with Modi’s leadership." The BJP's reaction underscores its firm position against any international commentary perceived as challenging India's legal processes or internal sovereignty.
