Umar Khalid a nationalist: Karnataka Congress chief amid documentary screening row
Karnataka Congress president BK Hariprasad on Tuesday called Umar Khalid a “nationalist” and hit out at the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for opposing a proposed documentary screening of the jailed activist at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru.
“Umar Khalid is a nationalist. ABVP has no right to speak on him as they adore Nathuram Godse, who was an anti-national and the first terrorist of the country. They have no moral right,” Hariprasad told reporters.
The remarks came amid a row over the proposed screening of 'Prisoner No 626710' is Present, directed by Lalit Vachani. The documentary, centred on Umar Khalid, was scheduled to be screened at NLSIU on Monday but has been postponed.
NLSIU said the event was rescheduled due to “logistical and security considerations” and insisted that it was not backing out because of pressure from anyone.
“The postponement is a precautionary step taken to ensure that the screening can be held in a safe and responsible manner,” the university said, adding that the event would be conducted during the current trimester.
The university said the programme was part of a broader discussion around pre-trial detention, bail, dissent, political incarceration and the relationship between criminal law and democratic freedoms.
Khalid has been in Tihar Jail since September 2020 after he was arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. A case has been filed against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other provisions of law. Khalid has denied the allegations against him.
The ABVP, meanwhile, has sought the Centre’s intervention for the permanent cancellation of the proposed screening of Khalid's documentary. It has also urged the Centre to order a high-level inquiry into the NLSIU administration over the event.
In a statement on Monday, ABVP's Bengaluru unit said it had sent representations to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, seeking their intervention.
The student organisation alleged that the postponement was a “stalling tactic” to allow public outrage to subside. It said educational institutions of national repute should not become platforms for what it termed political propaganda centred on Khalid.
ABVP also urged the Centre to direct NLSIU to permanently revoke all permissions for the documentary to be filmed, screened or promoted on campus. It sought an inquiry into the university administration and the organising committee over the granting of permission for the event.
The organisation said academic freedom and open discussion were constitutional rights but argued that freedom of expression could not take precedence over national security, sovereignty and institutional integrity.- Ends(with inputs from PTI)Published By: Prateek ChakrabortyPublished On: Sep 15, 2026 14:52 IST
