New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has penned a letter of solidarity to Indian activist Umar Khalid, who remains incarcerated in Delhi's Tihar Jail. The handwritten note, which surfaced on social media after being shared by Khalid's partner Banojyotsna Lahiri, conveyed Mamdani's thoughts on Khalid's resilience and mentioned a recent meeting with Khalid's parents. This gesture coincided with Mamdani's historic swearing-in as the 112th Mayor of New York City on January 1, 2026, making him the first Muslim and Indian-origin leader to hold the office. The development comes amidst increasing international attention on Umar Khalid's case. Simultaneously, eight United States lawmakers, including Representatives Jim McGovern and Jamie Raskin, addressed a letter to Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra. They urged the Indian government to ensure a fair and timely trial for Khalid in accordance with international law, expressing concerns over his prolonged detention without bail for nearly five years under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Khalid was arrested in September 2020 for his alleged role in the larger conspiracy behind the 2020 North East Delhi riots and has been repeatedly denied regular bail, though he received interim bail in December 2025 to attend his sister's wedding. In India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted strongly to the US lawmakers' intervention. BJP leaders, including Pradeep Bhandari, alleged a link between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and what they termed an "anti-India" lobby behind the letter. They cited a 2024 meeting between Gandhi and some of the US lawmakers who signed the letter, such as Representative Jan Schakowsky, as evidence of a pattern where an "anti-India narrative is peddled abroad" with Gandhi's alleged involvement.