‘Prepared allegations of terrorism’, Umar Khalid and Mandela compared! Mamdani in controversy

Former JNU social activist Umar Khalid has been in jail for almost six years on charges of sedition in the Delhi riots. His bail applications were repeatedly rejected, the trial dragged on. Zohran Mamdani, the Democrat mayor of New York, wrote a letter supporting Khalid’s situation regarding these issues. This time he compared Omar Khalid with the great leader of the anti-apartheid movement, Nelson Mandela! Mandela was imprisoned for a long time on charges of ‘organized terrorism’. Mamdani joined the controversy by commenting that Umar Khalid is also getting the same sentence.

In Mamdani’s words, “Madiba’s life-long struggle for the common man made him a messiah above all. Just like what is happening now with Umar Khalid of India. He has been imprisoned for 6 years without trial in Delhi riots. Accused of orchestrated terrorism, political prisoners. We must stand by such people.”

On July 15, the Nelson Mandela Global Leadership Forum started at the Town Hall in New York under the initiative of the Mandela Foundation. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani gave the opening speech there. While recalling the contribution of ‘Madiba’ i.e. Mandela, Umar Khalid was brought up irrelevantly. In Mamdani’s words, “Madiba’s life-long struggle for the common man made him a messiah above all. Just like what is happening now with Umar Khalid of India. He has been imprisoned for 6 years without trial in Delhi riots. Accused of orchestrated terrorism, political prisoners. We must stand by such people.”

Not only the Umar Khalid issue, but the Palestine issue was heard in Mamdani’s speech on this day. Describing the history of the apartheid movement in South Africa, Mamdani asked, “How long will we see thousands of parents burying their children?” We must unite to liberate Palestine before anyone else is maimed or homeless in the war. They have to secure their future.” India’s pulse connected with New York Mayor Mamdani. His mother Meera Nair is an Indian, renowned film director. So Mamdani’s passion for India is eternal. In that source maybe he sympathizes with Umar Khalid. But comparing him with a genius like Nelson Mandela is undoubtedly controversial.