The drive marks four months of incarceration of former JNU student leader Umar Khalid
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — On Wednesday (13th of January) former JNU student leader and anti-CAA activist Umar Khalid completed four months in jail. He is among 20 activists facing charges of hatching a criminal conspiracy of triggering Delhi riots that shook the national capital in February last year when women were on streets protesting against the controversial citizenship law.
To mark his four months of incarceration activists on social media launched a twitter storm calling on the government to release the activists. Hundreds of tweets were posted under the hashtag #AntiCAAProtestersKoRihaKaro (release anti-CAA protesters) which began trending on twitter at around 5 PM on Wednesday.
Today marks 4 months of unjust arrest of Umar Khalid who stood with peace, justice and equal citizenship rights. Speak up for him and for all political prisoners before space for dissent is completely eliminated in the Indian democracy.#AntiCAAProtestersKoRihaKaro pic.twitter.com/1SLS6nztih
— Free Umar Khalid (@FreeUmarKhalid1) January 13, 2021
The netizens said activists are in jail for “siding with the truth”.
Umar Khalid
Sharjeel Imam
Natasha Narwal
Devangana Kalita
Gulifsha Fatima
Ishrat Jahan
Khalid Saifi
Shifaur Rehman
Meeran Haider
Asif Iqbal Tahna
Athar Khan
Shadab Khan
Tasleem Ahmad
Tahir Hussain
Saleem Malik
Saleem Khan
Faizan Khan…. #AntiCAAProtestersKoRihaKaro— Nabiya Khan | نبیہ خان (@NabiyaKhan11) January 13, 2021
A tweet from the account of United Against Hate co-founder Khalid Saifi, in jail since February last year, said: “He is being punished just for protesting against CAA-NRC. If you believe that protesting is not a crime in a democracy, then you must demand.”
Criticism makes India’s democracy strong, says PM @narendramodi ji#AntiCAAProtestersKoRihaKaro pic.twitter.com/FGH9DAd3ZL
— Dr Kafeel Khan (@drkafeelkhan) January 13, 2021
The riots broke out last year when Hindutva supporters took to streets allegedly to clear off the roads occupied by anti-CAA protesters in the Jaffarabad area of Delhi’s north-east.
The spree of unidirectional investigation and arrests of muslim activists shows the fear of dissent voices to the authorities. We demand real investigation and arrest of real culprits. #AntiCAAProtestersKoRihaKaro
— Nabiya Khan | نبیہ خان (@NabiyaKhan11) January 13, 2021
The rioters were exhorted by speeches of leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The carnage that followed left behind a trail of death and destruction. The police were accused of siding with the rampaging mobs throughout the violence.
350+ days of illegal Arrest for Waking the Indian Muslims & asking them to hit the roads, to protest against laws which will take away their citizenship.
CHKKA JAAM IS NOT SEDITION,
Respect my existence or expect my resistance.#ReleaseSharjeelImam#AntiCAAProtestersKoRihaKaro pic.twitter.com/hl2UGhlvSo— 𝐌𝐞𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐝 ☪︎ (@SinceOttomans) January 13, 2021
The police say they are responsible for instigating the violence, a charge which they are unlikely to prove in a court of law.
Youth Scholar and brilliant intellectual Umar Khalid is charged under an anti-terror law in India for urging people to pursue the path of non-violence. One wonders what charges will be faced by those who call for genocide.The answer, in India,is none.#AntiCAAProtestersKoRihaKaro pic.twitter.com/IQto8fsUOv
— Samiullah Khan (@SamiullahKhan__) January 13, 2021
However, the police action has drawn severe criticism for going after peaceful activists while “real perpetrators” roaming free.
All those activists who were protesting against CAA, were framed by Modi govt to save Sanghi rioters.
RELEASE ALL OF THEM.#AntiCAAProtestersKoRihaKaro pic.twitter.com/NhmBitNB37
— Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) January 13, 2021
In October UN Human Rights chief Michael Bachellet urged India to free activists held under UAPA or Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
