JNU Protest Erupts Over Umar Khalid–Sharjeel Imam Bail Denial, Slogans Against PM Modi Spark Political Storm

New Delhi (India) January 6: During a demonstration on Monday against activists and former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots conspiracy case who argued that bail had been denied to them while protesting, some students had lodged offensive slogans. These were slogans that reportedly even included explicit threats against Prime Minister Modi in some cases. 

Night of Resistance meet at Sabarmati Dhaba turns volatile

The event — “A Night of Resistance with Guerrilla Dhaba” was staged at Sabarmati Dhaba to mark the anniversary of the January 5, 2020, violence in which masked men and women had burst onto the campus, launching mayhem by attacking both students and teachers.

However the nature of the event changed following a judicial verdict on the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam after which some participants allegedly raised inflammatory slogans. 

JNUSU denies personal attacks, says slogans were ideological

The ABVP alleged that office bearers of JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) were present during the sloganeering, comprising the president and vice president and other members of JNUSU student community. 

Students hold a protest every year to demonstrate against the violence on the campus on January 5, 2020, according to JNUSU President Aditi Mishra, and no personal attacks were made. 

“All of the slogans raised in the protest were ideological and do not attack anyone personally. They were not directed towards anyone,” she claimed.

JNU administration files police complaint

The administration’s JNU security head filed a police complaint at the Vasant Kunj police station Tuesday after the incident. The day of the commencement was limited to celebrating the anniversary and the numbers were 30–35, the complaint said. Some students were also named in the complaint. 

“During the course of the programme, subsequent to the judicial verdict on the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, the nature and tone of the gathering changed significantly. Certain students began raising highly objectionable, provocative, and inflammatory slogans. It is a direct contempt of the Honorable Supreme Court of India,” the complaint said.

Congress leader Udit Raj defends slogans as “political language”

Adding fuel to the fire over the sloganeering of slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly hoisted on campus at JNU in Delhi, Congress leader Udit Raj gave a nod to it, saying it was a form of venting anger. 

Raj said, "It is a way of registering protest. It is political language, it should not be taken literally. There is anger in the JNU because they (Khalid and Imam) are being treated the way they are because they are Muslims. Injustice has been done to them and the Supreme Court order has been unfortunate” in hindi.

BJP flags threat to national unity

The BJP censured the acts of those students. Party leader Pradeep Bhandari argued that the protest was not spontaneous and had nothing resembling an act of self-reliance in a bid to promote radical narratives, speaking to reporters in New Delhi. He says such actions are a grave threat to national unity. 

RJD MP Manoj Jha condemned the alleged slogans, insisting that he was against personal attacks. 

“I am against even saying 'murdabad'. Such slogans have no place in a civilised democracy. But what is this selective outrage?" he asked.

Supreme Court refuses bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam

Khalid and Imam have not been bailed in the five years since they were imprisoned in the 2020 Delhi riots case, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday. The court said it was satisfied there were sufficient pieces of evidence that indicated their involvement in the criminal conspiracy.

The bench did allocate the relief to five others listed in the case — activists, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed — arguing that they were not on equal footing with Khalid and Imam, the judge noted.