New Delhi, April 27 (FN Agency) The Delhi High Court, while hearing the bail application of Umar Khalid, arrested in Delhi riots case of 2020, said there has to be a Lakshman Rekha, while criticising the Prime Minister. Student Activist Umar Khalid was arrested in the larger conspiracy that led to riots in Northeast Delhi in February, 2020, under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Khalid had moved a bail application before the Delhi High Court, submitting that it was not illegal to criticise the government. The Counsel further submitted that the FIR against Khalid was a result of intolerance against freedom of speech and he has been falsely implicated in the case by levelling false allegations and was ready to furnish the surety as per direction of the Court, if granted bail.
The Division Bench Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar, while hearing the bail application, said that the speech of Khalid at Amravati was offensive, obnoxious and hateful. The Court, after listening to the speech given by Khalid at Amravati in February, 2020, asked from the Counsel whether it was proper to use the term ‘jumla’ in respect to the Prime Minister of India and said that there has to be a “Lakshman Rekha,” when it comes to criticism of the government. Khalid had said, “Jab aapke purvaj angrezon ki dalali kar rahe the, to Jamia Millia Islamia ke teachers angrezi hukumut se lad rahe the. (When your ancestors were brokering for the English, the Jamia Millia Islamia students and its teachers were fighting the British government).” The court asked, “Don’t you think its offensive?” The High Court was hearing the appeal, challenging the dismissal of Khalid’s bail plea by District Court in the case.