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Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday, September 16, questioned the delay in the trial of jailed student activist Umar Khalid and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to proceed with the case.
Priyank also questioned the BJP’s description of Umar as “anti-national” and criticised the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for opposing a proposed documentary screening on him at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru.
“Why are they (BJP government) not bringing up the trial? It's been so many years that he's in jail; there are apparently some charge sheets on him. Why is the trial not going on? Why are they so afraid to conduct the trial?” Priyank said, according to PTI.
“Mr Modi and Amit Shah, why are you so afraid of Umar Khalid? Take action,” he said.
Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and several other activists involved in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) were arrested in 2020 in connection with the Delhi riots case. The Delhi Police accused them of being part of a larger conspiracy that allegedly led to the violence. Umar Khalid was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), among other provisions, and has been jailed for six years without trial.
Priyank questioned the basis for calling Umar “anti-national”, saying that such a determination should be made by a court.
“Who is telling Mr Umar Khalid is anti-national? Has the court said that? The BJP is saying he is anti-national. Tomorrow, the BJP will tell you that you are anti-national. Do we have to believe that?” he said.
His remarks came amid a political row over a proposed screening of Lalit Vachani’s documentary Prisoner No. 626710 is Present at NLSIU. The screening, scheduled for September 14 as part of Political Prisoners’ Day, was postponed by the organisers citing security and logistical concerns.
The ABVP has sought the permanent cancellation of the screening and a high-level inquiry into the NLSIU administration over the proposed event. The RSS-backed student outfit has also sought intervention from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Priyank criticised the ABVP for opposing the screening and said it should instead focus on issues such as education reforms and the alleged Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam.
“Talk about the education reforms that youngsters, the Gen Z, are talking about. Talk about the KPSC scam that your (BJP) leaders are involved in. Why are you behind Umar Khalid? He's in jail. How is he harming you? Convict him. Who's saying no? But why is ABVP indulging in all these things about which documentary to be shown, which documentary not to be shown? This kind of goondaism will not be tolerated,” he said.
The controversy began after Karnataka Congress president BK Hariprasad described Umar as a “nationalist” while criticising the ABVP’s opposition to the documentary screening. The BJP and ABVP subsequently criticised Hariprasad’s remarks.
“Umar Khalid is a nationalist, and ABVP has no right to speak on him because they adore Nathuram Godse, who was an anti-national and the first terrorist of the country. They have no moral right,” Hariprasad had said.
Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra accused Hariprasad of making an irresponsible statement and alleged that it reflected the Congress’ approach to questions of national security. He also backed the ABVP’s opposition to the proposed documentary screening.
Vijayendra further claimed that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was distancing himself from Hariprasad by keeping him away from an event marking 100 days of the Congress government.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Dal activist Tejas Gowda filed a complaint at the Vidhana Soudha police station against Hariprasad over his remarks on Umar. The complaint alleged that the Congress leader’s statements undermined the judicial process and public peace.
Despite the postponement of the documentary screening, NLSIU students held a reading session on September 14, when the film was originally scheduled to be shown. They read Umar’s letters to his family and friends and also held a session on the Preamble to the Constitution.
The ABVP has continued to seek cancellation of the proposed screening. On September 16, a delegation of its Bengaluru unit met Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and submitted a memorandum seeking an inquiry into the organisers and the NLSIU administration.
