The Delhi Police on Thursday compared the 2020 Delhi riots accused Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid and others with terrorists behind the November 10 Red Fort blast, saying when intellectuals become terrorists, they become more dangerous than those working on the ground.
Arguing against their bail petitions in the Supreme Court, the Police also said it had become a trend now for doctors and engineers to engage in anti-national activities, and they are anti-national and not intellectuals.
“Even foreign newspapers carry sympathetic stories about the accused persons without understanding that they are anti-national and not intellectuals,” said Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Delhi police.
Arguing before a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria that the delay in trial was attributable to the accused and they cannot take advantage of it, the ASG said that the “so-called intellectuals” are a larger threat to national security than the uneducated terrorist on the ground.
He went on to say that the dangers they pose to national security have been demonstrated in what happened at Red Fort, wherein a white-collar terror conspiracy involving several doctors was unearthed during a probe.
“I must point out, intellectuals when they guide and become terrorists, they become more dangerous than those working on the ground. These are the real threat, and because of state support and subsidies, they become doctors and activists. These types of activists are dangerous. There is a narrative made that he’s an intellectual when bail applications are filed,” Raju argued.
“Even foreign newspapers carry sympathetic stories about the accused persons without understanding that they are anti-national and not intellectuals. The New York Times carried a story. Because Trump was coming to India. Whenever the bail matter comes, the New York Times carries something. Social media does something. Without understanding that they are anti-nationals under the facade of being intellectuals,” the ASG said.
Raju went on to say that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests were in fact a red herring.
He added that the real purpose of the CAA protests was a regime change and economic strangulation of the country.
Raju also played a video of Imam’s speech, where he had made controversial statements calling for a “Chakkajam” in all Indian cities, adding that Muslims must unite to cut off the ‘chicken neck’ (West Bengal’s Siliguri corridor) area connecting the north east from the mainland.
The video also showed the Imam calling for the disruption of supplies of essentials to Delhi, and paralysing the Government. The video further showed Imam saying, “Court ko uski naani yaad aajayegi, court aapka hamdard nahi hai (the court will face trouble, it is not your sympathiser)”.
Raju said Imam is an engineering graduate, and yet not practicing his profession but indulging in anti-national activities.
The Delhi Police also read out Khalid’s Amravati speech, which allegedly made mentions of triple talaq and abrogation of Article 370, among other topics.
Saying that this was an attempt by them to bring about a regime change, Raju pointed out that the protests were organised keeping in mind US President Donald Trump’s February 2020 visit.
Raju added that a false narrative is being created on social media in support of the “so-called intellectuals” without knowing the entire truth. When Raju claimed that Imam gave a call for the violent protest, the Bench questioned if he had used the word “violent” and pointed out that the entire video was not played in court.
Raju responded that the police is not shying away from the fact that the entire tape was not played as it’s very long.
“Sharjeel Imam says it’s not an innocuous dharna or protest. He says it is a violent protest and you should separate Assam from India. He says you should take laathis. He says it’s an issue of four countries — Bangladesh, Nepal, etc. He mentions about the Chicken’s Neck near Arunachal Pradesh,” police said in court.
Raju added, “It’s not a simple protest. These are violent protests. They are talking about blockades.” At this juncture, Justice Kumar asked if the speeches were part of the chargesheet, to which Raju replied in the affirmative.
The ASG said CAA protests were timed with US President Donald Trump’s visit to India to get international media coverage.
“The ultimate intention is regime change. CAA protests were a red herring, the real purpose was regime change, to create economic deprivation and create chaos across the country. The riots were deliberately made to coincide with the visit of US President Donald Trump. These so-called intellectuals are more dangerous than the ground-level terrorists,” Raju said. The Supreme Court will resume hearing the matter on Friday.