Priyank Kharge questions delay in Umar Khalid trial, BJP hits back
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday questioned the delay in the trial of jailed student activist Umar Khalid and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were "afraid" to proceed with the case.
Kharge also asked the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) to focus on issues concerning students instead of opposing the screening of a documentary on Khalid.
"Who is telling Mr Umar Khalid is anti-national? Has the court said that? The BJP is saying he is anti-national. Tomorrow, the BJP will tell you that you are anti-national. Do we have to believe that?" Kharge told reporters.
He was responding to Karnataka Congress president B K Hariprasad's recent description of Khalid as a nationalist, a remark that has drawn criticism from the BJP and right-wing organisations.
Khalid was arrested in September 2020 in connection with the larger conspiracy case relating to the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. He has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), among other provisions.
Kharge questioned why the trial had not commenced despite Khalid having remained in jail for several years.
"Why are they (BJP government) not bringing up the trial? It's been so many years that he's been in jail; there are apparently some charge sheets against him. Why is the trial not going on? Why are they (BJP) so afraid to conduct the trial?" he asked.
"Mr Modi and Amit Shah, why are you so afraid of Umar Khalid? Take action," he said.
Kharge said it should be for the court to determine whether a person was a nationalist or anti-national and not for a political party to issue such labels.
He also urged the ABVP to raise issues such as education reforms and recruitment irregularities instead of objecting to the proposed documentary screening.
"Talk about the education reforms that youngsters, the Gen Z, are talking about. Talk about the KPSC scam that your (BJP) leaders are involved in. Why are you behind Umar Khalid? He's in jail. How is he harming you? Convict him. Who's saying no?" he said.
Kharge said the "goondaism" he attributed to the student organisation would not be tolerated.
The KPSC recruitment controversy involves allegations of cash-for-jobs, question-paper leaks, tampering with OMR answer sheets and other irregularities in the recruitment of veterinary officers.
BJP Karnataka president B Y Vijayendra, meanwhile, criticised Hariprasad over his remarks on Khalid and alleged that they undermined the judicial process.
Vijayendra also accused the Congress of previously protecting those involved in alleged incidents of pro-Pakistan slogans being raised inside Vidhana Soudha.
He described Hariprasad's statement as "an act of treason" and alleged that it had created a sense of insecurity in the state.
The BJP leader also claimed that Chief Minister D K Shivakumar was distancing himself from Hariprasad by keeping him away from an event marking 100 days of the government.
"If Hariprasad was not even allowed onto the stage of a programme to celebrate the Shivakumar government's 100 days in office, it shows that the Congress government is keeping him at a distance. The CM himself is doing it," Vijayendra said.
Vijayendra backed the ABVP's opposition to the proposed documentary screening and alleged that the Congress was "insulting Hindus" through its politics of minority appeasement.
Separately, Bajrang Dal activist Tejas Gowda lodged a complaint at Vidhana Soudha police station against Hariprasad, alleging that his remarks about Khalid were objectionable and inflammatory and undermined the judicial process and public peace.
