Congress Leader Calls Umar Khalid 'Nationalist' Amidst Bengaluru Documentary Row

A political stir is brewing in Bengaluru following a controversy over a documentary featuring former JNU student, Umar Khalid. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has formally requested Union ministers to ensure the permanent cancellation of a screening of a documentary on Khalid at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru.

Amidst this demand for cancellation, a prominent Congress leader has publicly come out in support of Umar Khalid, emphatically stating, "'Umar Khalid is a nationalist.'" This comment has added a new dimension to the ongoing debate, further polarizing opinions on the activist. While the documentary screening was ultimately not held on September 14 as initially planned, the students at NLSIU found another way to express themselves and engage with the subject matter.

Instead of the documentary, they organized a session where they read Umar Khalid's recent letters to his family.

Following this, they collectively held a session reading the preamble of the Indian Constitution, a symbolic gesture highlighting principles of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.

This incident underscores the persistent tension surrounding figures like Umar Khalid, who has been at the center of various political and legal controversies. The contrasting views, from ABVP's call for censorship to a Congress leader's defense and the students' act of intellectual engagement, reflect the broader societal discourse on nationalism, free speech, and academic freedom in India.

The situation at NLSIU Bengaluru remains a focal point for these discussions. #UmarKhalid #NLSIU #ABVP #FreeSpeechIndia