Mohammad Ashraf,
New Delhi, Feb 22: “In the past seven-eight years, it is the first time that I have felt like a Muslim, they have reduced me to an Identity, just like what they did with Rohith. I am being associated with terror outfits because I bear a Muslim name,” these were the words of the ‘most wanted’ Umar Khalid, for whom Delhi Police had issued a look-out notice.
In an unexpected move, Umar along with his four other accused friends surfaced on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus Sunday evening. According to sources within the University, Umar and friends were spotted on the University campus late in the evening, but it was only chilling hours of the midnight when they appeared in front of the university students and spoke out passionately.
Umar, who appeared undeterred by the hyper jingoistic media trial, spoke passionately about the collective struggle of the JNU students and claimed that he stood strong on his ground. He also informed thousands of his supporters that there was no warrant against him.
However, it has been widely known and reported that Delhi Police had been looking for Umar and his other friends, in connection with the incident that took place on 9th February, inside the JNU campus. Umar, former member of Democratic Students’ Union, is said to be one of the organizers of the event that day.
Others to speak, during the meeting, were Shehla Rashid Shora, from All India Students’ Association, and some ‘wanted’ students like Rama Naga, Anirban Bhattarchaya and others.
Shehla, JNUSU, Vice President, announced in front of the gathering that the police were free to arrest Umar and others now, but they must do it in the presence of the entire University, and must not plot a shady tale depicting their arrest, as they do otherwise in cases of terrorism.
Taking a dig at the policemen in plain clothes and intelligence people, who were possibly present at the gathering, she said, “Police men among us here and intelligence people are free to click our pictures, make our videos and do whatever they want to do with it, we are not scared of them.”
The students also attacked the media fraternity for creating an environment in which they were looked at as terrorists. Before the meeting proceeded further, one of the students read the entire resignation letter of the Zee Media employee, Vishwa Deepak, in which he clearly wrote that his conscience did not allow him to continue working with the organization after the way it has reported the entire event of JNU.
The passionate students at the gathering, engaged in continuous sloganeering in which they denounced the University administration, Delhi Police and the government, declared their support for students charged with sedition.
Speaking exclusively to IndiaTomorrow.net, Anirban Bhattacharya said that the reason for their surrender is a look-out notice against them. On the other hand, Umar Khalid said: “I am willing to surrender as the police is building up mounting pressure on his family, threats are being sent regularly to them and police is targeting anyone related to me.”
Ashutosh, leader of the All India Students Association, said that they went missing after there were death threats against them and a mob was ready to lynch them at any point of time.
Others who spoke at the meeting talked about the history of resistance movements in JNU, the vibrancy of the campus life here and commitment of students to fight back regressive forces, be that at the time of emergency, demolition of Babri Masjid and martyrdom of its former union president Comrade Chandrashekhar.
In the meanwhile, guards at the University gate restrained, police and media personnel from entering the campus as per the instructions given by the university administration. However, sources in the Delhi police have confirmed that Umar and others will be arrested sometime during the day today.
