The BJP has raised strong objections after eight US lawmakers wrote to Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra urging a “fair and timely trial” for Umar Khalid, jailed for five years in the 2020 Delhi riots case. BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari linked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to the panel behind the letter, highlighting a 2024 meeting between Gandhi, US Representative Jan Schakowsky, and Ilhan Omar. Bhandari claimed Schakowsky later introduced the “Combating International Islamophobia Act,” naming India, and alleged that Gandhi’s associations repeatedly fuel anti-India narratives abroad. Sharing photos of the meeting, the BJP argued that individuals seeking to weaken India, target its government, or challenge anti-terror laws appear to converge around Rahul Gandhi, portraying him as central to international criticism of India’s policies.