Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and his wife, Suneet Vir Singh, visited the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where Aiyar’s remarks focused on jailed activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam rather than the NEET examination, which has been projected as the central issue of the agitation.
Addressing the gathering, Aiyar questioned whether speaking out against the government could result in imprisonment.
“If we raise our voice, what will happen to us? Will our next address be Tihar jail or what will be? We have seen Umar Khalid. We have seen Sharjeel Imam also. For 5-6 years, they are locked in jails.”
And there it is. Something OpIndia told people months ago.
This isn’t about NEET. This isn’t about students.
This is about Umar Khalid and FCRA primarily. pic.twitter.com/7SBAnvBySW
— Nupur J Sharma (@UnSubtleDesi) July 24, 2026
Speaking to reporters after the event, Aiyar reiterated his concern over the continued incarceration of Khalid and Imam.
“We saw Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. They are still in jail, and the government has failed to prove the case before the court. I tried to raise my voice then, but I was scared. You are fearless, and the country should be fearless,” he added.
Aiyar’s remarks have drawn attention because they shifted the focus away from the issues surrounding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and instead centered on the cases of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, both of whom remain in judicial custody in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case.
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