New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has penned a handwritten letter to Umar Khalid, a student activist detained since 2020 without trial over the Delhi riots, expressing solidarity and admiration for his resilience. This gesture, shared amid Khalid’s ongoing bail battle, reignites global scrutiny on the case.
Zohran Kwame Mamdani, who made history on 1 January 2026 by becoming New York City’s first Muslim and Indian-origin mayor, reached out to Umar Khalid with a touching message.
The letter, shared by Khalid’s partner Banojyotsna Lahiri on social media platform X, reads: “Dear Umar, 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.”
This comes shortly after Mamdani met Khalid’s parents during their December 2025 visit to the US, where they advocated for their son’s release. The note’s timing coincides with Khalid surrendering to court after a 14-day interim bail granted for his sister’s wedding, underscoring a moment of family reunion amid prolonged incarceration.
Mamdani’s connection to Khalid dates back years. In 2023, as a New York State Assembly member, he publicly read excerpts from Khalid’s prison writings at an event, highlighting themes of non-bitterness and hope.
Now elevated to mayor, this letter amplifies his stance, blending personal empathy with political symbolism. It has gone viral, sparking debates on social media about justice, free speech, and international solidarity.
Supporters hail it as a beacon of humanity, while critics question its propriety given the gravity of charges against Khalid.
Umar Khalid’s Long Legal Ordeal
Umar Khalid, 37, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student leader and activist, has been in Tihar Jail since 14 September 2020. Delhi Police arrested him under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Indian Penal Code sections for allegedly masterminding the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
Prosecutors claim his speeches during anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests incited violence, part of a larger conspiracy involving Islamist radicals and leftists. Khalid denies involvement, stating himself as a peaceful protester targeted for dissent.
His bail pleas have faced repeated setbacks. A trial court rejected in October 2022, citing risks of witness tampering. The Delhi High Court followed suit in 2024, but last month, it granted interim bail for the wedding, allowing home confinement.
The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on his regular bail in December 2025, leaving Khalid in limbo. Over 4.5 years, he has endured solitary conditions, health issues, and family separations, becoming a symbol for many in India’s opposition to UAPA’s use against activists.
Khalid’s supporters, including academics and human rights groups like Amnesty International (before its India operations halted), argue his detention violates Article 21 rights to liberty. They point to no convictions yet in the riots case, questioning prolonged pre-trial detention.
The 2020 Delhi Riots: A Flashpoint of Division
The riots erupted on 23 February 2020 in northeast Delhi’s mixed Hindu-Muslim neighbourhoods amid CAA-NRC protests. Sparked by clashes between pro and anti-CAA groups, violence lasted days, leaving 53 dead-36 Muslims, 15 Hindus, two Sikhs-and over 500 injured. Mobs torched shops, homes, and a mosque; police faced accusations of bias from both sides.
Delhi Police’s chargesheet names Khalid among 19 “conspirators,” alleging a plot hatched in secret meetings. Evidence includes call records and speeches deemed provocative. Co-accused like Sharjeel Imam and Devangana Kalita have bail, but UAPA’s stringent provisions hinder Khalid’s.
Post-riots probes, including Justice Muralidhar’s, highlighted police lapses, yet the case remains polarising. BJP leaders blame “urban Naxals”; opposition cites minority targeting.
This backdrop explains Mamdani’s letter: as a DSA-backed progressive of Ugandan-Indian Muslim heritage, he views Khalid through a lens of anti-colonial resistance and free expression.
Mamdani’s Rise and Activism
Born in 1991 to filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, Zohran grew up in New York after his family fled Uganda’s dictatorship.
A democratic socialist, he won the Assembly seat in 2020, championing rent control, Palestine solidarity, and police reform. His 2025 mayoral win on a platform of affordability and equity marks a leftward shift for NYC.
Meeting Khalid’s parents-former JNU professor SQR Ilyas and social worker Naseem-during their US advocacy tour deepened ties. No official Indian response yet, but past similar gestures drew BJP ire as foreign meddling.
Broader Implications for Justice and Dialogue
The letter spotlights tensions between national security and civil liberties in India. UAPA, renewed in 2024 despite critiques, has a 95% conviction rate post-trial but enables indefinite detention. Human Rights Watch urges review; UN rapporteurs raised Khalid’s case.
Politically, it fuels narratives: liberals see solidarity against authoritarianism; nationalists decry external interference. As Delhi elections loom, it may stoke CAA debates anew.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Gestures like Mamdani’s remind us empathy transcends borders, humanising the incarcerated and urging fair trials.
The Logical Indian stands for peace, dialogue, kindness, and harmony, rejecting violence from any quarter while demanding due process heals riot scars. In a diverse nation, coexistence thrives on justice, not vengeance.
