My name is Umar Khalid, I’m not a terrorist: JNU prodigal returns and how
The “anti-national” is back! Student of Jawaharlal Nehru University and ex-Democratic Students Union member Umar Khalid, also apparently India’s “most wanted”, “terrorist” and an “agent of Pakistan” resurfaced on Sunday night, returning to his cherished campus.
Along with four other students, Khalid has shown faith in the very system that has left no stone unturned to brand him a terrorist. In a dramatic turn of events, throughout Sunday night, JNU students kept a vigil and stood between Delhi Police cops, who had issued a lookout notice for Khalid and others, including Anirban Bhattacharya.
Addressing a late night gathering, Khalid gave a rousing speech to his fellow JNU students and teachers, which pretty much punctured and exposed the bare-faced lies of those people out to get the former DSU member and avowed atheist. As students and teachers cheered from the sidelines, it was a night to remember and a historic milestone in the academic and political career of JNU.
When Umar began to speak, the crowd cheered on loudly, with applauds and boos at the “establishment” ringing in the air.
Journalists, newsanchors and others too thronged and heard as Umar began with a cheesy but apt, “My name is Umar Khalid and I am not a terrorist.”
Some of the best lines from his 14-minute-long speech in Hindi and English are reproduced below:
“First of all, I would like to thank the students inside and outside the campus, teachers, let me correct - 'comrades', who became the part of this fight.”
“This isn't just a fight for 5-6 people, but for a better society in the future.”
“Since last 10 days, I have come to know a lot of new facts about myself, which even I wasn't aware of. I came to know that I have visited Pakistan twice, even though I don’t have a passport.”
[Here, the crowd burst into laughter.]
“I came to know I am a mastermind. I agree JNU minds are wonderful, anyway but little did I know I was focusing too much.”
“I also didn't know I was planning anti-India programmes across 70-80 universities in India. I seriously didn't know I had such a huge influence.”
[Umar also targeted the media of not showing substantial evidence against his so-called “anti-national” activities.]
“Forget mentioning "allegedly", media openly kept on proving that I have been involved in anti-national activities. Not just India, also in gulf nations and what not. This was nothing more than a virtual trial. I would simply call it media trial.”
“Intelligence bureau showed in reports that I have no link with LeT or Jaish-e-Mohammad but media didn't even try to put a disclaimer that it was a false information. You call adivasis Maoists, Muslims terrorists, the perfect wheelie of media trial is happening!”
“Iss baari, aap galat logo se bhid gaye (This time you have encountered wrong people). Every media channel must answer to allegations they made in the last 10 days.”
“I have been hearing and watching my father's and sister's statements since last couple of days. My sisters are getting rape threats on social media.”
“I can recall those days when members of Bajrang Dal were raping Christians of Gandamala and simultaneously shouting ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. I would just like to ask them, if this is your Bharat Mata then it can't be ours.”
“In the last seven years in campus I never felt I was a Muslim and in last 10 days I was made to feel, I was a Muslim. I am Umar Khalid and I’m not a terrorist.”
“They call me Pakistani agent. Let me just share a few verses of poem from a Pakistani poet. Pakistan bhi mera hai, Hindustan bhi mera hai, dono mulkon mai America ka dera hai ( Pakistan is mine, India is mine and both countries are home to Americans).”
“They fear us because we think. It’s easy to be an anti-national in this country now. All you have to do is think.”