Bengaluru, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B.K. Hariprasad on Thursday defended his earlier description of jailed activist Umar Khalid as a “nationalist”, saying that whether an individual is anti-national must be determined by a court and not by political parties.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Hariprasad said the issue should be viewed within the country’s constitutional and democratic framework and questioned the basis for politically branding Khalid as anti-national.
“Those who oppose the national tricolour, oppose the Constitution and refuse to sing the national anthem are anti-national. Umar Khalid has not spoken against the Constitution or the country,” Hariprasad said.
He also alleged that Khalid had remained in prison for six years without a trial and said the activist had respect for the judiciary.
“Umar Khalid does not need a certificate from the BJP. J.P. Nadda, junior Yediyurappa (State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra) or anybody else in the BJP are not judges. The BJP office is not a court. If Umar Khalid is anti-national or a betrayer, it has to be decided by the court,” he said.
Hariprasad further alleged that proceedings in the case had stalled and claimed that authorities had failed to file an FIR or chargesheet against Khalid. However, court records show that an FIR was registered in March 2020 in the Northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case, followed by a main chargesheet in September 2020 and subsequent supplementary chargesheets.
Khalid has been in custody since September 2020 in connection with the alleged conspiracy relating to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. The prosecution has accused him of involvement in a larger conspiracy, allegations that remain subject to judicial proceedings.
Hariprasad said the Congress opposed what he described as the prolonged and unethical detention of an Indian citizen and maintained that Khalid did not require a political certificate to establish his nationality.
His comments came amid a political controversy over a proposed screening of a documentary on Khalid at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru. The screening was postponed, while the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) opposed the event. Hariprasad had earlier called Khalid a “nationalist” in response to the controversy.
The remarks drew criticism from BJP leaders. BJP MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwathnarayan accused Hariprasad of repeatedly making controversial statements, while former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai called for legal action against him.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru Police said they would seek legal opinion before deciding whether to proceed with a complaint filed against Hariprasad over his earlier remarks describing Khalid as a “nationalist”.
The controversy has widened the political debate in Karnataka over Umar Khalid’s case, nationalism, constitutional rights and the judicial process.
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