• Source:JND

Pointing out at Rahul Gandhi’s 2024 meeting with a US lawmaker, Janice Schakowsky, who, along with seven other lawmakers, demanded the release of Umar Khalid, the BJP presented it as evidence of his ‘anti-India’ stand. Schakowsky, with seven other US lawmakers, has asked the Indian government to release 2020 Delhi riot accused Umar Khalid, who has been in jail for the last five years without trial.

Sharing a photo of Rahul Gandhi with US lawmakers, Janice Schakowsky and Ilhan Omar, the BJP Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said, "Every time an anti-India narrative is peddled abroad, one name recurs in the background... those who want to weaken India, defame its elected government, and dilute its anti-terror laws converge around him."

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Bhandari claimed that there was a link between Gandhi's 2024 trip to the US, and meeting with Schakowsky and Omar and a bill sponsored by the latter and tabled in January 2025.

The bill called for establishing an Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia to tackle associated concerns. It also mandated that existing annual US Congress reports on human rights and religious freedom abroad include details on Islamophobia and anti-Muslim propaganda spread through state-controlled media.

In an X post, Bhandari wrote, "How the Rahul Gandhi-anti-India lobby works…

2024: Jan Schakowsky meets Rahul Gandhi in the United States – with anti-India Ilhan Omar.

January 2025: She reintroduces the 'Combating International Islamophobia Act', explicitly naming India and alleging 'crackdowns on Muslim communities'.

Cut to 2026: The same Jan Schakowsky writes to the Government of India, raising 'concerns' over Umar Khalid - an accused under UAPA in serious cases linked to riots and violence."

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On December 30, Schakowsky wrote a letter, urging the Indian government to release Umar Khalid and ensure a trial 'in accordance with international law'. The US lawmakers also urge the Indian government to ensure similarly fair treatment to Khalid's co-accused.


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