NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Friday reacted sharply to the letter sent by New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani to jailed student activist Umar Khalid, saying “personal prejudices does not behove those in office.” Hitting out at Mamdani, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We expect public representatives to be respectful of the independence of judiciary in other democracies. Expressing personal prejudices do not behove those in office. Instead of such comments, it would be better to focus on the responsibilities entrusted to them.” Mamdani, in the note, had said he often thinks about the former JNU student leader’s thoughts on bitterness. “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,” in the handwritten note, Mamdani said. The note, undated, was shared on X by Khalid’s partner Banojyotsna Lahiri last week, after Mamdani was sworn in as mayor in a midnight ceremony. Khalid, was arrested in September 2020 and charged under unlawful activities (prevention) act (UAPA) for allegedly conspiring to incite riots in Delhi, charges he has consistently denied. Khalid was granted temporary bail in December to attend his sister’s wedding. Khalid’s father, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, earlier told TOI that the family met Mamdani early December last year during a visit to the United States to meet Khalid’s sister. Ilyas said he had sought time from Mamdani to congratulate him on his appointment and ended up meeting him and his wife for around half an hour. “He gave us time exclusively and we discussed many things, including Umar’s incarceration. We hoped he would fulfil the promises he has made for the people of New York,” he said. “We also spoke about what has been happening to my son and the developments around his case. Mamdani said he follows it and has read Umar’s letters from jail,” he added.“This prolonged incarceration itself is unjust, and that is why it has attracted international attention,” Lahiri said.
