ABVP and Legal Experts Seek Cancellation of Umar Khalid Documentary at NLSIU

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has requested that the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) cancel the screening of a documentary titled 'Prisoner No 626710 is Present' about activist Umar Khalid. The screening, organized by the Law and Society Committee (LawSoc), is scheduled for September 14. It is intended to be followed by discussions on pre trial detention, bail, dissent, and the relationship between criminal law and democratic freedom.

In a statement, the ABVP condemned the event and argued that educational premises should not be used for political propaganda or the glorification of civil unrest. The organization linked Khalid to the JNU controversy, Afzal Guru commemorations, and the Delhi riots. Advocate Girish Bharadwaj also emailed the university administration to urge the cancellation of the screening. While Bharadwaj stated there is no objection to academic discussions on civil liberties, he argued that such programs should be balanced by including national security perspectives and the views of victims of terrorism.

Students at NLSIU told The Hindu that the documentary was screened last year on Political Prisoners Day and that the university does not currently plan to restrict the program. One student described the ABVP's response as undemocratic and noted that discussing law and policy is a norm in law school. Additionally, former Infosys CFO T.V. Mohandas Pai criticized the event on X, stating that the university should uphold the rule of law rather than glorify terrorists.

Reporting on the event differed based on political framing. A center left source framed the event as a matter of democratic dialogue and academic freedom, highlighting student perspectives and the historical context of the screening. A center right source focused on the demands for cancellation and the arguments regarding national integrity and the need for balanced academic perspectives.