Karnataka Congress President Hariprasad Defends Umar Khalid, Calls Him a Nationalist
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Bengaluru,Sept 15: Karnataka Congress president B.K. Hariprasad on Tuesday came out in support of jailed activist Umar Khalid, describing him as a “nationalist” and questioning the opposition to a proposed documentary on him at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU).
Hariprasad hit out at the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which has demanded permanent cancellation of the screening of filmmaker Lalit Vachani’s documentary Prisoner No. 626710 is Present. The screening, originally scheduled for September 14, was postponed by NLSIU citing logistical and security considerations. The university has said it was postponed, not cancelled.
Hariprasad’s latest remarks add to his earlier interventions in support of Khalid. In July, he had defended the display of posters supporting Khalid at a NEET protest in Bengaluru and questioned why such posters had become controversial. He had also criticised the Centre’s handling of Khalid’s case.
CONG WHITEWASHES UMAR KHALID
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) September 15, 2026
WITH "NATIONALIST" BRUSH.
"Umar Khalid is a nationalist and ABVP has no right to speak on Umar Khalid because ABVP adores Nathuram Godse, he was anti-national, the first terrorist of the country. They have no moral right or moral ethics to speak on… pic.twitter.com/9nISn2GYF5
Khalid has been in custody since September 2020 in connection with the 2020 northeast Delhi riots case and faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He has denied the allegations against him.
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The latest remarks are likely to intensify the political debate over the proposed documentary, with the ABVP demanding its cancellation and the Congress leader defending Khalid.