BENGALURU: The proposed screening of a documentary on jailed student activist Umar Khalid at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) here has been cancelled, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) claimed on Saturday.The documentary, “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present”, directed by filmmaker Lalit Vachani, was proposed to be screened at the university. The RSS-affiliated students’ body had strongly opposed the screening.While ABVP claimed that the screening had been cancelled, there was no official confirmation yet from the Law and Society Committee (LawSoc), a student organisation at NLSIU that had organised the event.In a statement, ABVP Bengaluru said it “notes the cancellation of Umar Khalid‘s documentary screening at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU).”The screening was recently postponed by LawSoc, citing logistical and security concerns, following protests by ABVP. The student organisation, however, had demanded that the event be cancelled.ABVP had also recently urged Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to order an inquiry into the proposed screening of the documentary.In its statement, ABVP said that while it firmly believes in vibrant campus spaces, open discussions, free speech and academic freedom, it can never be used as a shield to promote narratives that challenge the sovereignty, integrity, and security of the nation.“Specifically, premier legal institutions must never become platforms for individuals associated with glorifying attacks on our nation or advocating for the secession and fragmentation of Jammu and Kashmir,” it said.It further said that educational spaces must remain centers of academic excellence and national pride.ABVP reiterated that freedom of speech stops where national security is compromised, and any attempt to undermine national unity under the guise of open discourse will continue to face resolute opposition from the student community.The screening controversy had led to a war of words between leaders of the ruling Congress in Karnataka, including state president BK Hariprasad, who termed Khalid a “nationalist”, and the ABVP and BJP.Khalid was arrested in September 2020 in connection with a case relating to an alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 Delhi riots. He was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, among other provisions.(With PTI Inputs)
