ABVP Seeks Centre’s Intervention to Stop Umar Khalid Documentary Screening at NLSIU
ABVP has urged the Centre to permanently stop a proposed Umar Khalid documentary screening at Bengaluru’s NLSIU and sought an inquiry into the university administration.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has urged the Centre to intervene against a proposed screening of a documentary on jailed activist Umar Khalid at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru. The student organisation has also demanded a high-level inquiry into the university administration over the proposed event.
In representations to Union ministers, the ABVP sought permanent cancellation of the screening of “Prisoner No 626710 is Present”, directed by Lalit Vachani. The documentary’s screening was recently postponed by organisers, who cited security and administrative concerns.
The ABVP alleged that the postponement could allow public opposition to subside and argued that institutions of national importance should not become venues for what it described as political propaganda.
The organisation cited Khalid’s involvement in controversies surrounding the 2016 JNU protests, CAA-NRC protests and the 2020 Delhi riots while opposing the proposed screening. It asked the Centre to revoke any permissions allowing the documentary to be filmed, screened or promoted on the university campus.
The ABVP also called for an inquiry into how permission for the event was granted and whether complaints from student groups were considered. It sought stricter guidelines governing the use of publicly funded university infrastructure for events involving political or controversial narratives.
While acknowledging academic freedom and freedom of expression as constitutional principles, the organisation argued that these rights must be balanced with national security, sovereignty and institutional integrity.
