BJP protests Umar Khalid book event in Bengaluru, workers detained
Bengaluru : A book-related event centred on Umar Khalid triggered political tensions in the city, with the Bharatiya Janata Party staging protests near the venue and police detaining several party workers.
The programme, based on the book “Umar Khalid and His World,” was held at the Bangalore International Centre near Domlur. The BJP had earlier objected to the event, urging authorities not to grant permission, citing Khalid’s status as an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Despite the opposition, organisers went ahead with the event, allowing entry only to those who had pre-registered. Anticipating protests, a large number of BJP workers gathered outside the venue, raising slogans and demanding cancellation of the programme.
Police stepped in nearly an hour before the event began and detained the protesting workers as a preventive measure. Officials said the move was aimed at maintaining law and order and ensuring that the programme proceeded without disruption.
A senior police officer said, “We had prior information about the protest. To avoid any untoward incident, we took preventive custody of the protesters and deployed additional security at the venue.”
The event witnessed participation from several prominent personalities, including actor Prakash Raj, historian Ramachandra Guha, and academic Janaki Nair, among others.
While BJP leaders criticised the organisers for hosting a programme linked to a controversial figure, the organisers maintained that it was an intellectual discussion and part of democratic discourse.
The incident highlights the growing friction between political groups over public platforms and freedom of expression. Police maintained a strong presence throughout the event, and no untoward incidents were reported.
