Eight members of the US Congress have written to the Indian government a day after New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote to activist Umar Khalid, who has been imprisoned for more than five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the North-East Delhi riots conspiracy case, urging for a fair and prompt trial.
Congressman Jim McGovern, a ranking member of the House Rules Committee and co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, led the letter to India's ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra. McGovern, a Democrat who represents the 2nd Congressional District of Massachusetts, stated that earlier in December, he and other lawmakers had met the parents of Umar Khalid.
In a post on X, McGovern wrote, “Earlier this month, I met with the parents of Umar Khalid, who has been jailed in India for over five years without trial. Representative Raskin and I are leading our colleagues to urge that he be granted bail and a fair, timely trial in accordance with international law.”
The letter cautioned that Khalid’s continued incarceration without bail could be inconsistent with international norms relating to equality before the law, due process and proportionality. It emphasised that India has an obligation to safeguard the right of every individual to a fair trial within a reasonable timeframe, or to be released while being presumed innocent until guilt is established, Siasat Daily reported.
The lawmakers also sought details from the Indian government on the measures in place to ensure that the legal proceedings against Khalid and the other accused adhere to internationally accepted standards.
The communication was jointly signed by Congressman Jamie Raskin; Senators Chris Van Hollen and Peter Welch; Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal and Rashida Tlaib; and Congressmen Jan Schakowsky and Lloyd Doggett.
The move followed closely after newly elected New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed solidarity with Umar Khalid in a note that was later shared on social media by Khalid’s partner, Banojyotsna. The note referred to Mamdani’s meeting with Khalid’s parents and his thoughts on maintaining resilience during challenging periods.
“I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume oneself. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you,” Mamdani wrote.
Mamdani was sworn in as Mayor of New York on Thursday.