U.S. lawmakers urge India to grant fair trial to jailed JNU student leader Umar Khalid, detained since 2020.

U.S. lawmakers, including Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Peter Welch and Representatives Jim McGovern and Jamie Raskin, have called on India to guarantee Umar Khalid, a former JNU student leader imprisoned since 2020 under India's UAPA, a fair and prompt trial. Concerns about his five-year pre-trial detention without bail were raised in the letter, which was addressed to India's U.S. ambassador. Due process and the presumption of innocence were highlighted. The appeal comes after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met Khalid's parents in December and offered his support. In order to attend his sister's wedding, Khalid, who was charged in the 2020 Delhi riots case, was granted provisional bail in December 2025. However, his bail request is still pending before India's Supreme Court.