New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) Condemning the recent remarks of Karnataka Congress President, B.K. Hariprasad, on imprisoned student activist Umar Khalid, Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao on Wednesday said that it was unfortunate to call such an individual 'a nationalist.'
Speaking to IANS, Rao said, “The Karnataka government and Karnataka leaders who have given a certificate of being a ‘nationalist’ to Umar Khalid is very unfortunate. We condemn such certificates being given to people who speak about dividing India, who speak about ‘azaadi’ for Kashmir. Who speak about ‘tukde-tukde karenge Bharat ke’. And these above persons indulge in anti-national activities.”
Claiming that the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is a nationalist force, Rao said that the only body which would oppose such remarks is the student organisation affiliaited to the RSS.
“The Karnataka government must apologise to the people for making such statements, not only to the people of Karnataka but to the entire country,” he demanded.
Rao further claimed, “Because Umar Khalid is known for anti-national activities, such a person being branded as a nationalist is very unfortunate."
Reportedly, the ABVP opposed the proposal to screen a documentary on student activist Umar Khalid at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru.
The ABVP had previously sought to cancel the proposed screening of film-maker Lalit Vachani’s documentary on imprisoned activist Umar Khalid, titled 'Prisoner No. 626710 is Present'.
On Tuesday, B.K. Hariprasad called imprisoned activist Umar Khalid a "nationalist" and criticised the ABVP for opposing a proposed documentary screening of the student activist at the NLSIU in Bengaluru.
He said that ABVP has no right to speak against Khalid because the organisation holds in high regard Nathuram Godse, who was the first 'terrorist' in India.
"Umar Khalid is a nationalist. And ABVP has no right to speak about Umar Khalid because ABVP adores Nathuram Godse, who was anti-national; the first terrorist of the country. They have no moral right or moral ethics to speak about Umar Khalid," Hariprasad told reporters.
--IANS
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