Rajya Sabha member Nagaraj takes exception to KPCC president’s statement

Rajya Sabha member and national vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, M. Nagaraj, has condemned KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad’s statement criticising ABVP for its opposition to the screening of a documentary on jailed activist Umar Khalid.

In a press statement, Mr. Nagaraj condemned Mr. Hariprasad’s statement in which he had termed Umar Khalid a nationalist and had said that ABVP had no moral right to speak against him.

The ABVP opposed the screening of a documentary on Umar Khalid at the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru, and Mr. Hariprasad’s statement revealed the mindset of the Congress party, Mr. Nagaraj said.

Mr. Umar Khalid had been under judicial custody for the last six years following various charges against him under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and for his alleged involvement in the Delhi riots. “Speaking in favour of a person accused of sedition was unbecoming of a State president of the Congress party. In his zeal to appease minorities, Mr. Hariprasad had overstepped and spoken in support of a person accused of anti-national activities,” Mr. Nagaraj said.

Mr. Nagaraj urged Mr. Hariprasad to immediately withdraw his statement against ABVP, which he said has been involved in nation-building activities for the last several decades.