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BJP alarmed by growing displays of support for Umar Khalid
Umar Khalid is an activist who has been in jail in India for nearly six years without a trial.
He is accused under a special law called the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Some people in India think he is being treated unfairly, and they have been showing support for him at protests and online.
Recently, police in Mumbai arrested a former student for cheering for Umar Khalid at a university event.
In Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University cancelled a talk about a book he wrote.
A person in Bengaluru got in trouble with the police for carrying a poster that said 'Long live Umar Khalid.'
Instagram also blocked a page called 'Free Umar Khalid' in India after the government asked it to.
A lawyer named Arvind Narrain says the Constitution gives people the right to speak up for someone in jail, so these actions have no legal basis.
Supporters think the government is scared because more and more people are speaking out for Umar Khalid.
They say they will keep supporting him no matter what.
On August 7, Mumbai police arrested Abhirup Paul, a former Tata Institute of Social Sciences student, for allegedly chanting slogans in support of Umar Khalid at a campus event.
Two days later, Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi withdrew permission for a discussion on Khalid's book Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power.
Last month, an FIR was filed against a Bengaluru demonstrator who carried a 'Umar Khalid zindabad' poster during youth protests demanding the education minister's resignation.
Instagram restricted access to a profile named 'Free Umar Khalid' in India after a demand by the Modi government, and two protesters were detained in Goa for expressing support for Khalid.
Lawyer Arvind Narrain, president of the People's Union for Civil Liberties' Karnataka unit, said the actions have no legal basis since Article 19 guarantees the right to advocate for the release of accused persons.
- Who
- Umar Khalid, a jailed activist accused under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and his supporters across India, including lawyer Arvind Narrain and activist Banojyotsna Lahiri.
- What
- Authorities in several Indian cities took action against protesters, students and social media users for displaying support for Khalid, including an arrest, detentions, an FIR and the restriction of an Instagram profile.
- Where
- Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Goa in India.
- When
- In recent weeks, including events on August 7 and August 9 and actions last month.
- Why
- Supporters say the crackdown reflects the state's fear that Khalid's support is becoming mainstream, driven by his framing as 'anti-national' for his opposition to Hindutva politics.
Khalid's supporters and civil liberties advocates
State authorities, Hindutva politics and movement organisers wary of association
Freedom to advocate for Khalid's release
Khalid's supporters and civil liberties advocates
There is no legal basis for stopping support for Khalid; Article 19 of the Constitution protects the right to advocate for the release of anyone accused under any law, including UAPA.
State authorities, Hindutva politics and movement organisers wary of association
Khalid is framed as 'anti-national' for his opposition to Hindutva politics, and authorities have arrested, detained and filed FIRs against those expressing support for him.
Should the education movement raise Khalid's case
Khalid's supporters and civil liberties advocates
Nabiya Khan and an All India Students' Association activist argued the movement against the corporatisation of higher education must mention political prisoners like Khalid and Sharjeel Imam and not treat them as a distraction.
State authorities, Hindutva politics and movement organisers wary of association
Cockroach Janta Party spokespersons insisted the 36-day sit-in stick to the demand for the education minister's resignation alone, saying discussing Khalid threatened unity.
Key facts
- Activist
- Umar Khalid
- Legal status
- Accused under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act
- Time in custody
- Nearly six years in prison without trial
- Recent arrest
- Abhirup Paul, former Tata Institute of Social Sciences student, in Mumbai on August 7
- Book
- Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power
- University action
- JNU withdrew permission for a book discussion on August 9
- Platform action
- Instagram restricted the 'Free Umar Khalid' profile in India
- Legal objection
- Arvind Narrain: actions have no legal basis under Article 19
Quotes
Banojyotsna Lahiri
Researcher based in Delhi and partner of activist Umar Khalid.
““Umar Khalid’s name was taken every day at the protest in Bengaluru.””
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““At worst, he [Khalid] is an accused,” he explained.”
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Sources
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