US lawmakers urge India to grant bail, fair trial to Umar Khalid
New Delhi/Washington: A group of lawmakers from the United States has written to India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, urging that activist and former Jawaharlal Nehru University student Umar Khalid be granted bail and a fair, timely trial in accordance with international law.
The letter was signed by eight US Representatives, including Jim McGovern and Jamie Raskin. In the communication, the lawmakers expressed concern over what they described as the prolonged pre-trial detention of individuals charged in connection with the February 2020 violence in Delhi, specifically referring to Khalid.
McGovern said he met Khalid’s parents in December and noted that Khalid has been in jail for more than five years without trial. Khalid and several others have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, along with provisions of the Indian Penal Code, for allegedly being part of a larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots, in which 53 people were killed and over 700 injured.
“The US and India share a long-standing strategic partnership that has historically been rooted in democratic values, constitutional governance and strong people-to-people ties,” the lawmakers wrote. They added that as the world’s largest democracies, both countries have a shared interest in protecting freedom, the rule of law, human rights and pluralism.
The lawmakers said they were raising the issue in this spirit, pointing out that several human rights organisations, legal experts and international media outlets have questioned the fairness of the investigation and legal process in Khalid’s case. They noted that Khalid has been denied bail for five years under the UAPA, which, they said, independent human rights experts have warned could contravene international standards related to due process, proportionality and equality before the law.
The US Representatives said they were aware that the matter is currently before the Supreme Court of India and welcomed the recent order granting Khalid temporary bail to attend his sister’s wedding. They urged that he be released on bail for the duration of the court proceedings.
“With respect for India’s democratic institutions and its role as a key partner of the United States, we request that your government share the steps being taken to ensure that the judicial proceedings against Khalid and his co-accused who remain in detention meet international standards,” the letter said.
Earlier this month, I met with the parents of Umar Khalid, who has been jailed in India for over 5 years without trial. @RepRaskin & I are leading our colleagues to urge that he be granted bail & a fair, timely trial in accordance with international law. pic.twitter.com/tBIbG1aOwc
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) December 30, 2025
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No confusion in BJP-JD(S) alliance: Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday dismissed speculation over confusion in the BJP-JD(S) alliance, asserting that there was clarity within them and that discussions on the chief minister post were premature.
Addressing reporters at the party's state office, JP Bhavan, after chairing a preparatory meeting for the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections, he said the immediate priority was to remove what he termed an "anti-people government" in the state and to strengthen the alliance to face upcoming polls.
"This is not the time to discuss who should become the chief minister. There is still time for that. If we speak about it now, it would be like stitching the cradle even before the baby is born," Kumaraswamy said, underlining that leadership questions would be taken up at an appropriate time.
The JD(S) second-in-command said there is still a lot of work to be done and it was not appropriate to speak about such matters now.
"On the issue of alliance, both I and our party are open-minded. When the time comes, we will discuss it on the party platform and take a decision. There is no confusion regarding the alliance, and there will be no confusion in the future. This is my stand," Kumaraswamy said.
"There is a bad government in the state. My objective is to remove it and bring in a pro-people government. Removing this corrupt and bad government is my agenda. The JD(S) and BJP parties will work together to accomplish this task," he added.
Reiterating his stand, Kumaraswamy said, "My objective is to remove the anti-people government in the state. I have been saying this from the beginning."
On reports of internal differences over the alliance and the CM's position, the union minister said he would not respond to every statement made by individuals.
"Some people are speaking about the alliance and the chief minister's position. I do not feel the need to respond to them. If I start answering each of them, people may think I lack maturity. Therefore, I will not speak about it. We will strengthen the alliance together, face the elections together, and bring a pro-people government," he said.
Kumaraswamy added that discussions within parties were natural and not final.
He said there were still two years left for the Assembly elections while there were four to five months left for the local body elections.
The union minister said the JD(S) is also preparing for the municipal elections in Bengaluru city just as other parties.
He clarified that there had been no discussions so far between the two parties specifically on local body or GBA elections.
Earlier, the JD(S) leader chaired a meeting with Members of the Legislative Council, former MLAs and other leaders of his party to review preparations for the GBA elections.
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