Hariprasad Defends Umar Khalid Posters at NEET Protest Calls for Amit Shah’s Resignation

A fresh political controversy has emerged in Karnataka after Congress leader and KPCC Working President BK Hariprasad defended the display of posters supporting Umar Khalid during a protest over the alleged NEET examination paper leak. His remarks have sparked debate over the intersection of political expression and student led demonstrations.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Hariprasad questioned the prolonged incarceration of Umar Khalid, who is an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case. He asked why a proper chargesheet had not been filed despite Khalid spending several years in jail and criticized the handling of the legal process by the central government. He also questioned whether supporting a poster of Umar Khalid should be considered an offence.

The controversy follows an incident during a NEET protest held in Bengaluru on Friday, where a few participants displayed posters carrying slogans in support of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. Another poster carrying the message Ukhad Le BLR Police also attracted attention at the protest venue.

Police officers present at the location quickly removed the posters after noticing them, aiming to prevent the situation from escalating. Although the incident briefly created tension among participants, officials and organisers acted promptly to maintain order, allowing the demonstration to continue peacefully without any major disruption.

Interestingly, not all protesters supported the display of the posters. Several students participating in the agitation reportedly objected to their presence and confronted a young woman carrying one of the posters. They argued that introducing unrelated political issues could divert attention from the primary objective of the movement, which was to seek accountability over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

Hariprasad also expanded his criticism to the central government while commenting on the examination controversy. He said that responsibility for the alleged paper leak should not rest solely with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. According to him, Union Home Minister Amit Shah should also step down, claiming that accountability should extend beyond a single ministry.

The remarks have added a political dimension to protests that were initially focused on alleged examination irregularities. While student groups continue to demand transparency and accountability in the conduct of competitive examinations, the debate has increasingly shifted toward broader political and legal issues following the latest developments.

With political parties, student organisations and law enforcement now involved in the discussion, the incident has become another flashpoint in the ongoing national conversation surrounding the NEET controversy and the limits of political expression during public demonstrations.