India slams New York Mayor Over Umar Khalid Letter

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New Delhi: India has strongly criticized New York City Mayor Mamdani over a letter he reportedly wrote to Umar Khalid, who is accused in the conspiracy case related to the 2020 Delhi riots. The reaction came amid reports that the mayor’s communication expressed support for Khalid, a move New Delhi said amounted to inappropriate interference in India’s internal judicial processes.

Responding to the development, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stressed that public representatives in other democracies must respect the independence of the judiciary. In an official statement, the MEA said, “We expect public representatives to be respectful of the independence of judiciary in other democracies. Expressing personal prejudices do not behove those in office. Instead of such comments, it would be better to focus on the responsibilities entrusted to them.”

The Indian government underlined that matters related to Umar Khalid are sub judice and are being handled through established legal and judicial procedures. Officials reiterated that India’s judiciary functions independently and that ongoing cases should not be subjected to external political commentary or pressure.

Umar Khalid, a former student activist, has been charged under India’s anti-terror law for his alleged role in the conspiracy behind the Delhi riots, which erupted in February 2020 and claimed more than 50 lives. Indian authorities have consistently rejected international criticism of the case, maintaining that due process is being followed and that legal outcomes will be determined solely by the courts.