ABVP Petitions Union Ministers to Ban Umar Khalid Documentary

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has petitioned Union ministers Amit Shah, Pralhad Joshi, and Arjun Ram Meghwal to permanently cancel the screening of a documentary about imprisoned activist Umar Khalid at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru. The film, titled 'Prisoner No. 626710 is Present', was scheduled for September 14 to mark Political Prisoners' Day and the sixth anniversary of Khalid's arrest under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

NLSIU postponed the event, citing logistical and security considerations, though the university stated the screening would still occur during the current trimester. Despite the postponement, students held a reading session on September 14 featuring a letter from Khalid and the preamble of the Indian constitution.

ABVP and advocate Girish Bharadwaj condemned the event as political propaganda that glorifies civil unrest. The organization is now demanding a high-level inquiry into the NLSIU administration for granting permission to the screening. Bharadwaj argued that any academic discussion on civil liberties should instead include national-security perspectives and the views of terrorism victims.