A Hindu activist on Wednesday, 16 September filed a formal complaint at the Vidhana Soudha police station in Bengaluru against Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad over his remarks describing jailed activist Umar Khalid as a 'nationalist' and questioning the standing of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) to comment on him. The complainant, Tejas Gowda, alleged the remarks were aimed at spreading hatred and urged police to register a criminal case against the Congress leader.

What Hariprasad Said

The controversy stems from remarks Hariprasad made on Tuesday, a day before the complaint was filed, in which he defended Umar Khalid before reporters inside the Vidhana Soudha premises. 'Umar Khalid is a nationalist, and ABVP has no right to speak on Umar Khalid because ABVP adores Nathuram Godse — who was an anti-national and the first terrorist of the country. They have no moral right or moral ethics to speak on Umar Khalid,' Hariprasad told reporters in Bengaluru. He also described Khalid's detractors as individuals with 'no morals and ethics.'

The Complaint and Allegations

Speaking to the media after filing the complaint, Gowda alleged that Hariprasad's remarks — made within the precincts of the Vidhana Soudha, Karnataka's seat of legislative power — amounted to an insult to Indian citizens. 'As the Karnataka Congress President, he is glorifying a terrorist and has exposed his mindset and thinking before everyone,' Gowda alleged.

Gowda pointed to Umar Khalid's arrest under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case, and claimed that courts had rejected his bail applications. He argued that describing Khalid as a 'nationalist' under these circumstances was legally objectionable. 'Delhi riots case accused Umar Khalid, who was arrested under the UAPA, is a nationalist for Hariprasad. This raises questions about the Karnataka Congress President and the party's policy,' Gowda said.

Police Response and Next Steps

According to Gowda, police officials at the Vidhana Soudha police station informed him that his complaint would be registered. He warned that if an FIR was not filed, he would approach the court and seek judicial directions for registration of the case.

Political Context

This comes amid an already charged political atmosphere in Karnataka, where the ruling Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has faced sustained pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and affiliated organisations over a range of law-and-order and ideological issues. Notably, Hariprasad's remarks were made a day after he had already defended his position publicly, suggesting a deliberate stance rather than an off-the-cuff comment. The ABVP, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has been a vocal critic of Umar Khalid, making Hariprasad's counter-attack on the organisation's moral authority a pointed political move. How the police proceed with the complaint — and whether the Congress leadership distances itself from or doubles down on Hariprasad's remarks — will shape the next phase of this controversy.