The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unleashed a sharp critique against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, branding him part of an "anti-India lobby" following a letter from eight US lawmakers seeking bail for activist Umar Khalid. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari drew attention to Gandhi's past meetings with some signatories, like Congresswoman Janice Schakowsky, during his 2024 US visit, suggesting these ties fuel foreign interference in India's judicial matters.

The letter, addressed to Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra on December 30, 2025, was signed by prominent Democrats including Schakowsky, Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, and Jim McGovern. They urged a "timely and fair trial" for Khalid, who has languished in Tihar Jail since September 2020 without trial, facing UAPA charges in the 2020 Delhi riots case that claimed over 50 lives. The lawmakers cited human rights concerns and questioned the evidence against him after meeting his family.

"Every time an anti-India narrative surfaces abroad, Rahul Gandhi's name pops up," Bhandari declared on X, referencing Schakowsky's role in the 2025 "Combating International Islamophobia Act," which spotlighted India. He highlighted Gandhi's interactions with Omar and Schakowsky alongside Sam Pitroda, framing it as a recurring alliance undermining India's anti-terror stance. Congress has stayed silent so far on the accusations.

Khalid, a former JNU student leader, remains detained amid denied bail pleas under UAPA's tough provisions. The controversy escalated with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's personal note to Khalid, prompting BJP and VHP backlash as "external meddling," especially amid global Hindu concerns like Bangladesh unrest. This episode mirrors prior BJP swipes at Gandhi's foreign engagements, spotlighting sovereignty debates.