Bengaluru, 16 September 

Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were afraid of jailed student activist Umar Khalid and challenged them to conduct his trial.

He also said the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad should engage in constructive activities instead of opposing the screening of a documentary on Khalid, warning that "goondaism" would not be tolerated. s

"Who is saying that Khalid is anti-national? Has the court said that? BJP is saying he's an anti-national. BJP tomorrow will tell you that you are an anti-national. Do we have to believe that?" Priyank told reporters. He was reacting to Karnataka Congress President BK Hariprasad's statement that Khalid was a nationalist.

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

“Why are they (BJP) so afraid to conduct the trial?" Priyank asked. "Mr Modi and Amit Shah, why are you so afraid of Umar Khalid? Take action."