Bengaluru, September 15 (Daily Kiran) : Congress leader BK Hariprasad stirred controversy on September 15 by labeling incarcerated activist Umar Khalid as a “nationalist.” Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he criticized the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for opposing a proposed documentary screening about Khalid at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU).
Hariprasad asserted that the ABVP has no right to comment on Khalid, claiming they honor Nathuram Godse, whom he described as a traitor and the first terrorist of the nation. He emphasized that the ABVP lacks the moral authority to speak against Khalid.
The remarks came after the ABVP demanded the cancellation of the screening of “Prisoner Number 626710,” a documentary by filmmaker Lalit Vachani focused on Khalid. The screening was scheduled for September 14, organized by the university’s Law and Society Committee to mark six years of Khalid’s detention under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) related to the 2020 Delhi riots.
NLSIU later announced that the event was postponed due to “institutional” and “security concerns.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly condemned Hariprasad’s comments, branding them “highly condemnable.” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra reminded the public of Congress’s past interactions with separatist leader Yasin Malik, questioning their integrity.
Patra expressed disbelief that Hariprasad could call Khalid a nationalist, pointing out that Khalid was implicated in the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in February 2020, which resulted in numerous fatalities. He noted that Khalid’s bail plea was rejected by the Supreme Court just a few months prior, highlighting the Congress party’s perceived sympathy for someone with such a controversial background.
Patra further criticized Congress for what he termed “appeasement” of extremists, suggesting the party has fallen to new lows in its political strategy.
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