Members of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) staged a protest near the Bangalore International Centre in Domlur against the Karnataka government’s approval for a book release on Umar Khalid, a JNU activist currently held in Tihar Jail under the UAPA for his involvement in the 2020 Delhi riots. The protesters, who accused “Urban Naxals” of supporting terrorists, were detained by the police during the demonstration.
The protestors, critical of the Congress-led state government, were surrounded by the police as they chanted slogans and displayed posters. The police then detained the protesters and transported them to an undisclosed location by buses. BJP MP P.C. Mohan, questioning the decision to allow the book release event, emphasized Umar Khalid’s role as a key suspect in the 2020 Delhi riots, highlighting the loss of lives and property during the violence.
BJP leader Mohan, along with other party members, submitted a plea to the Bengaluru Police Commissioner to prevent the scheduled book release event at the Bangalore International Centre. He criticized the organizers for allegedly glorifying individuals associated with anti-national activities and accused the Congress-led state government of indirectly supporting such actions. Opposition leader’s Chief Whip in the Legislative Council, N. Ravi Kumar, also expressed strong opposition to the book release on Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, both facing charges under the UAPA in the Delhi riots case.
Ravi Kumar emphasized the seriousness of the allegations against the accused individuals and questioned the state government’s decision to allow the book release despite the Supreme Court’s rejection of bail pleas for Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. He highlighted the impact of the 2020 Delhi riots, which resulted in numerous casualties and injuries, and criticized the move to publish a book on the accused persons.
