ABVP seeks Centre intervention to stop proposed Umar Khalid documentary screening at NLSIU
The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has sought the Centre’s intervention to permanently cancel the proposed screening of a documentary on jailed activist Umar Khalid at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU).
The student organisation has also sought a high-level inquiry into the NLSIU administration over its decision to allow the proposed event.
In a statement on Monday, ABVP Bengaluru said it had submitted representations to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, seeking their intervention.
The documentary, Prisoner No. 626710 is Present, directed by Lalit Vachani, was recently postponed by the organisers citing security and administrative reasons.
ABVP alleged that the postponement was a “stalling tactic” intended to allow public opposition to the event to subside.
The organisation said institutions such as NLSIU should not be used as platforms for what it described as political propaganda centred on Khalid. It referred to his involvement in the 2016 JNU controversy and protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC, among other issues.
ABVP urged the Centre to direct NLSIU to permanently revoke any permission for the documentary to be filmed, screened or promoted on the campus.
It also sought an inquiry into the university administration and the organising committee over the granting of permission for the event, alleging that complaints raised by student bodies had been ignored.
The student organisation further called for guidelines to prevent infrastructure at publicly funded central and national universities from being used for what it termed “anti-national narratives”.
ABVP said academic freedom and freedom of expression were constitutional rights but argued that they should not take precedence over national security, sovereignty and institutional integrity.
The proposed screening has been postponed and there was no immediate indication of a fresh date for the event.
