India's Ministry of External Affairs has criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for sending a note of solidarity to jailed activist Umar Khalid. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that public representatives should respect the independence of the judiciary in other democracies and avoid expressing personal prejudices. Mamdani's handwritten note, shared by Khalid's friend, was given to Khalid's parents during their US visit in December. The MEA advised Mamdani to focus on his responsibilities, while Khalid remains incarcerated in a 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case.