ABVP tells Union ministers not to allow screening of Umar Khalid docu at NLSIU-Bengaluru

Escalating its stand on the proposed screening of documentary on imprisoned activist Umar Khalid, organised by the Law and Society (LawSoc) Committee, at National Law School of India University (NLSIU), the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad (ABVP) Bengaluru has written to Union ministers for permanent cancellation of the screening. The screening, scheduled for September 14, was postponed following opposition by ABVP.

ABVP stated that id they had submitted a representation to Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, Minister of Education Pralhad Joshi, and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal. The letter explicitly urges Central intervention to enforce ‘a complete, permanent cancellation’ of the event, and order a high-level enquiry against the administration of NLSIU.

The LawSoc committee proposed to screen Lalit Vachani’s documentary Mr. Khalid Prisoner No. 626710 at NLSIU, as part of Political Prisoners’ Day on September 14. ABVP and other right-wing activists had written to the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of the university to cancel the event or face ‘serious consequences’.

Later, the screening was postponed by the students citing security and logistics issues. 

ABVP’s key demands to the Union ministers is that they issue clear instructions to the NLSIU management to revoke all permissions permanently, ensuring the documentary is not filmed, screened, or promoted on campus under any pretext.

“Initiate a comprehensive inquiry into the NLSIU administration and organising committee regarding how permission was granted for an event glorifying an individual accused of anti-national activities and civil disruption while ignoring formal complaints submitted by student bodies,” they stated in the letter.

They have urged enforcement of strict guidelines across Central and national universities ‘to prevent institutional infrastructure funded by public resources from being weaponised for anti-national narratives under the guise of academic freedom’.

However, students of the university told The Hindu that the screening of this documentary was not new. A student said that the screening was held in 2025 during the Political Prisoners’ Day.

This year too a screening was organised followed by discussions on pre-trial detention, civil liberty, and other topics related to Mr. Khalid’s case, a student said.

Reading session held

Though the documentary was not screened, students organised a reading session in the evening on September 14. 

A students said, “Screening may be stopped but reading cannot be stopped. A reading session of Mr. Khalid’s recent letter to his family, friends and others was read on the occassion of Political Prisoners’ Day. A session on reading of the preamble of the Indian constitution was also held.”

The Hindu has reached out to the Vice-Chancellor for his response on this issue. This copy will be updated when he responds.