Prithviraj Chavan Backs NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Letter to Umar Khalid

Who is Prithviraj Chavan?

Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a prominent Congress leader, Prithviraj Chavan has made headlines with his recent comments supporting New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani.

Support for Mamdani’s Intervention

Chavan praised Mamdani for his decision to write to Umar Khalid, who is facing charges related to the 2020 Delhi riots. He emphasized that as a person of Indian origin, Mamdani has the right to advocate on behalf of those impacted by injustice, regardless of his American citizenship. Chavan stated:

“He (Mamdani) has faith in Indian politics… If injustice is happening to an Indian, he has every right to intervene.”

Background on Zohran Mamdani

Mamdani, a socialist Democrat and the first Muslim and Indian-origin mayor of New York City, was sworn in on January 1. He is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani.

The Letter to Umar Khalid

In his heartfelt note, Mamdani expressed his thoughts to Khalid, who has been incarcerated since September 2020. He wrote:

“Dear Umar, I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume oneself.”

Mamdani also noted that it was a pleasure to meet Khalid’s parents.

Legal Developments for Umar Khalid

The Supreme Court recently rejected the bail applications of Khalid and fellow accused Sharjeel Imam while granting conditional bail to five others involved in the case.

Chavan’s Controversial Comments

Chavan has faced criticism in recent days for claims regarding India being “defeated” during a conflict with Pakistan in May 2025. Despite backlash, he has refused to apologize.

In a previous incident, he questioned why anti-terror operations were assigned "Hindu names," further raising eyebrows about his political stance.

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