India Slams Mamdani for Writing Note to Umar Khalid
New Delhi: India on Friday appeared to disapprove of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani writing a note to jailed activist Umar Khalid saying public representatives should respect the independence of the judiciary in other democracies. Mamdani, who is of Indian origin, handed Khalid a handwritten note when the activist’s parents met him in the US last month.
In the note, Mamdani expressed her solidarity with Khalid.
“We expect public representatives to respect the independence of the judiciary in other democracies,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. he said.
He was answering a question about Mamdani’s communication with Khalid.
“Expressing personal biases is not befitting of incumbents. Instead of such comments, it would be better to focus on the responsibilities assigned to them,” Jaiswal said. he said.
Khalid has been denied bail since his arrest by the Delhi Police in September 2020.
He was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in a case related to clashes between supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act and those opposing the law in Northeast Delhi in February 2020. 53 people died and hundreds were injured or displaced in the clashes.
Police claimed that the violence was part of a conspiracy to defame the Central government.
This week the Supreme Court denied Khalid bail.
