Zohran Mamdani To Umar Khalid: Why did Zohran Mamdani remember Umar Khalid as soon as he sat on the mayor’s chair, wrote in the letter – ‘We are talking about you…’

Former JNU student and social activist Umar Khalid, lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail for the last five years, has now got the support of Mamdani. America’s new mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has expressed solidarity with Umar Khalid by writing an emotional letter to him. This letter came out on the same day when Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as Mayor of New York. Mamdani is of Indian origin and has become the first Muslim mayor of a big city like New York.

In this undated letter, Mamdani has mentioned the conversation he had with Omar Khalid’s family. He wrote that he constantly remembers Omar’s thoughts and his struggle. In the letter, Mamdani wrote that he enjoyed meeting Omar’s parents and they all keep thinking about Omar.

Letter surfaced on social media

This hand-written letter was shared by Omar Khalid’s partner Banojyotsna Lahiri on her social media account. In the letter, Mamdani recalled Omar’s words against hatred and bitterness and praised him for maintaining mental strength.

Mamdani has already spoken in support of Omar Khalid

This is not the first time that Zohran Mamdani has supported Omar Khalid. At an event organized in New York before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America in June 2023, Mamdani had publicly read out some excerpts of a letter written by Omar Khalid from jail. At that time Mamdani was a member of the New York State Assembly.

American lawmakers also raised their voice

Even before this, international pressure was seen regarding the case of Umar Khalid. 8 American lawmakers had written a letter to the Indian Ambassador in Washington demanding bail for Omar Khalid and a fair and timely trial. Many prominent Democrat lawmakers were involved in this initiative.

Accusations against Omar Khalid

Umar Khalid, 38, was arrested in September 2020. Serious charges have been leveled against him under the Indian Penal Code and UAPA. Till now he has not been able to get regular bail. Recently, to attend his sister’s wedding, he was granted interim bail for a limited period of time, with strict restrictions imposed on his speech and use of social media.

Also read: Open letter to India came from Pakistan on New Year, who wrote – ‘Uproot it with India’