New Delhi: Manish Sisodia’s bail has galvanised not only the Aam Aadmi Party but also the incarcerated former student leader Umar Khalid’s friends and supporters.
Khalid’s partner Banojyotsna Lahiri said, “Who will give back the 17 months of Manish Sisodia’s life? And in Umar Khalid’s case, where it has been four years—who will restore this time?” It was Khalid’s 37th birthday and an hour-long documentary film, Prisoner No. 626710 is Present, was released on Facebook. It had a chilling first scene featuring a message from the jailed activist.
“If you’re watching this video, that means I have already been arrested. Through this video, I want to give you a message. Delhi Police isn’t arresting the rioters in its investigation into Delhi riots. They are not being arrested. But those who were peacefully protesting against CAA are being implicated in false charges.”
The film, made by Lalit Vachani, follows Khalid’s journey from joining the JNU, delivering his first campus speech, participating in the anti-CAA protests to being targeted by the BJP in the Delhi riots and the role of media in his arrest.
Khalid was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA for allegedly “masterminding” the 2020 Delhi riots. However, his relatives and friends argue that he has been implicated by the BJP and only Muslims have been targeted in the case.
“This is not a civic or criminal case, this is a political case,” said Lahiri, pointing out how BJP leaders and supporters always misrepresent Khalid’s speech by posting some portion out of context while repeatedly calling him ‘anti-national’.
Lahiri also highlighted how the term ‘anti-national’ became widely popular and came to be used against anyone who spoke out against the Narendra Modi government.
Also read: 4 yrs after Delhi riots, why ‘larger conspiracy’ case against Umar Khalid & others is still in limbo
Democracy on trial
More than 600 people joined the film’s virtual screening on 11 August, filling the live inbox with comments of solidarity and support. The screening was followed by a discussion between Vachani, Lahiri, Khalid’s former prison mate and friend Anirban Bhattacharya, and artist, writer, and curator Shuddhabrata Sengupta.
Khalid filed a bail application with the Supreme Court in May 2023, prompting a response from the Delhi Police. After his plea was adjourned 14 times, his counsel, senior advocate Kapil Sibal withdrew the application. On 14 February 2024, Khalid approached the trial court for regular bail, citing delays and seeking parity with the other accused in the Delhi riots case. The court has directed the police to submit a reply before the next hearing scheduled for 29 August.
All the charges against Khalid and other inmates have been dropped except the UAPA, which is simply a way to not allow them bail.
“The ongoing trial process, which has produced no results, is a mockery of these individuals,” Sengupta said. “These trials put democracy on trial.”
Lahiri emphasised that despite the unending trials, Khalid’s struggle is not in vain. “Them [Khalid and other inmates] walking every time from the corridors of courts shows Shaheen Bagh lives in the corridors of courtrooms and Shaheen Bagh wins every time they smile,” she said.
The film highlights Khalid’s speeches, emphasising his consistent support for Gandhian principles of non-violence in both words and actions.
The incendiary slogan, “Bharat tere tukde honge (India will be broken into pieces)”, was never used by Khalid; nobody knows where it comes from. “Khalid was the fictional leader of the tukde-tukde gang,” Sengupta said.
The panellists noted that Khalid’s fearless struggle reflects the resilient spirit of all people’s movements from Shaheen Bagh to the recent student protests in Bangladesh.
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Life behind the bars
Khalid’s friends maintain that while the BJP is responsible for his imprisonment, the media shares equal responsibility for not showing the truth.
“The media has covered this entire issue selectively. During the protests and Khalid’s arrest, they asked us questions but showed no real interest in our answers. They only showcased or praised what aligned with their own agenda,” said Lahiri.
The film emphasises Khalid’s wrongful imprisonment. It suggests that if Khalid is depicted as a hero and the BJP and media as villains, it is completely justified. The comments section echoed this sentiment, affirming that Khalid’s sacrifice would not be in vain. Some even questioned Kanhaiya Kumar’s silence on Khalid after his release.
The film ends with Khalid calling out, “Do not be scared, make your voice strong against injustice. Fight injustice.”
Although Khalid remains incarcerated, he is always aware of the changes happening in the world. “He is always observing everything happening in the world very very closely, he always has comments to share on political and social developments,” Sengupta added.
Having lost four years in prison, Khalid’s only solace is the opportunity to reflect and read more books, which now occupy more than one shelf.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)