Delhi High Court Critiques UAPA Charges Against Umar Khalid and Others as Political Parties Target Delhi Police

New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) Following the Delhi High Court's stern admonition of the Delhi Police for charging Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others under the rigorous Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), various political entities, including Congress and AIMIM, vocally criticized both the police and the BJP-led central government.

The Congress party stated that every individual possesses the right to express disagreement and dissent towards the government's policies, while AIMIM raised concerns about the motives behind their arrests, labeling them as 'cruel and politically motivated.'

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and several associates are implicated in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots, which resulted in over 53 fatalities, and have been incarcerated for several years. They have sought bail on the grounds of a delay in their trial; however, this plea has been contested by the Delhi Police, which asserts that a 'well-planned conspiracy was devised and executed by them with sinister and ruthless intentions.'

During the bail plea hearings, the Delhi High Court questioned the justification for applying UAPA against them, asking: 'Is your argument that merely establishing a protest site warrants UAPA charges?'

Responding to this, Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera emphasized that dissent against those in power should not be equated with sedition and that protesters should not be labeled as 'terrorists.' He called for a clear distinction between dissent and insurgency.

In an interview with IANS, he argued, 'If someone protests against government policy, will you penalize him based on his caste and religion? In a democracy, everyone is entitled to protest. The constitution guarantees us this freedom.'

AIMIM leader Waris Pathan criticized the Delhi Police and the BJP-led central government for 'misusing' legal processes for political gain.

'Umar Khalid and many others remain incarcerated today, demonstrating the misuse of the UAPA law. His bail plea is not being considered. UAPA should be applied to actual terrorists. What significance does freedom of speech hold in the Constitution if it is invoked against students like Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid? They protested against the government's flawed policies. Should UAPA be enforced upon someone merely for protesting against government policies?' he stated.

Another Congress leader, Shaktisinh Gohil, seized the opportunity to criticize the Delhi Police and the BJP administration.

'The BJP has a history of abusing government machinery to advance its political agenda. It does not hesitate to use the administration to create divisions among communities. It is commendable that the Court has reprimanded the Delhi Police and its political overseers for disrupting the atmosphere,' he remarked.

Significantly, Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others have been accused of orchestrating a premeditated conspiracy leading to riots in Northeast Delhi from February 23 to 25, 2020. They have faced charges under UAPA and have been imprisoned for over four years now.