NLSIU: ABVP seeks inquiry into proposed screening of Umar Khalid documentary

BENGALURU: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad on Wednesday urged Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to order an inquiry into the proposed screening of a documentary on jailed student leader Umar Khalid at the National Law School of India University here.

The screening was postponed by the university, citing logistical and security concerns, following protests by the ABVP. The student organisation, however, has demanded that the event be cancelled.

A delegation comprising ABVP Bengaluru city president Ramesh M, secretary Abhinandan Mirji, and joint secretaries Dhanush Gowda and Ananya met Meghwal at Lok Bhavan here and submitted a memorandum against the proposed screening.

"The delegation demanded that the postponed screening be cancelled and called for an inquiry into the organisers of such programmes. It also demanded a high-level inquiry into the university administration for having granted permission for the event," the ABVP said in a statement.

Khalid was arrested in September 2020 in connection with the case relating to an alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 Delhi riots and was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, among other provisions. The ABVP also questioned why the trial had not commenced.