In a dramatic development, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party under the leadership of Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal gave permission to prosecute former JNU student Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for their involvement in organizing communal violence in northeast Delhi in February.
Reacting to the development, JNU Students’ Union president Aishe Ghosh tweeted, “Mr Kejriwal, each and every betrayal won’t be forgotten.”
Mr. @ArvindKejriwal , each and every betrayal wouldn't be forgotten ! https://t.co/YeXmDfAn0q
— Aishe (ঐশী) (@aishe_ghosh) November 6, 2020
After Delhi’s government gave the go-ahead, the AAP said, “Delhi government has not stopped prosecution in any case in the last five years, including those pertaining to AAP MLAs and party leaders,”.
Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and Faizan Khan were booked under the stringent anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for their involvement in instigating violence and riots.
The Delhi Police has received prosecution sanction from both the Delhi government and the Union Home Ministry.
“We have received prosecution sanction against Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and Khan in connection with a case registered against them under the UAPA. We have received sanctions from both the Delhi government and the Ministry of Home Affairs,” a government official was quoted saying in the Press Trust of India.
The official further added, “To prosecute one under section 13 of the UAPA, we need sanction from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which we have already received. For prosecution under section — 16, 17 and 18 of the UAPA, we have received sanction from the Delhi government,”.
Umar Khalid’s father SQR Ilyas who was once a member of the banned Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI tweeted, “Arvind Kejriwal unveiled.”
#ArvindKejriwal unveiled ! https://t.co/nLhyh9dCCe
— Ilyas SQR (@Dr_SQRIlyas) November 6, 2020
Former JNU students leader Shehla Rashid tweeted, “I am happy for my friends in the US. Regardless of the final outcome, they can take solace in the fact that they at least have a real opposition,”.
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police had named in its charge sheet 15 accused under the provisions of stringent UAPA in connection with the violence in parts of northeast Delhi when United States President Donald Trump was on a state visit.
The accused include Pinjra Tod members and JNU students Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, Jamia Millia Islamia student Tanha, Gulfisha Khatoon, former Congress Councillor Ishrat Jahan, Jamia Coordination Committee members Zargar, Meeran Haider, Shafa-Ur-Rehman, suspended AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain, activist Khalid Saifi, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Salim Malik, Mohd Salim Khan and Athar Khan.
The communal violence that was orchestrated on February 24, left 53 people dead and around 200 injured.