BJP Links Rahul Gandhi to US Lawmakers' Letter for Umar Khalid, Claims Anti-India Agenda

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of being linked to a group of US lawmakers who recently wrote to the Indian government seeking a 'fair and timely trial' for activist Umar Khalid. Khalid has been in jail for five years in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case. According to BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari, US Representative Jan Schakowsky, who co-authored the letter with seven other US lawmakers, met with Rahul Gandhi in 2024, along with 'anti-India' Ilhan Omar. Bhandari shared a photograph of the meeting, claiming that Rahul Gandhi's name keeps recurring in 'anti-India' narratives abroad. The BJP leader also alleged that after meeting Rahul Gandhi, Schakowsky introduced the 'Combating International Islamophobia Act' in the following year, naming India and alleging 'crackdowns on Muslim communities.' Bhandari claimed that the same Jan Schakowsky wrote to the Indian government raising concerns over Umar Khalid, an accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). In contrast, a letter signed by eight US lawmakers, including Jan Schakowsky and Rashid Tlaib, expressed concern over the prolonged pre-trial detention of individuals charged in connection with the February 2020 violence in Delhi, including Umar Khalid. The letter stated that the US and India share a long-standing strategic partnership rooted in democratic values, constitutional governance, and strong people-to-people ties. The US lawmakers also raised questions about the fairness of the investigation and legal process related to Khalid's detention, citing human rights organisations, legal experts, and global media. They noted that Khalid has been detained without bail for five years for charges levied under the UAPA, which may contravene international standards of equality before the law, due process, and proportionality. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote a note to Khalid's parents, recalling his words on 'bitterness' and the importance of not letting it consume oneself. 'Dear Umar, I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume one's self,' Mamdani's handwritten note said.