ABVP seeks permanent cancellation of Umar Khalid documentary screening at NLSIU
ABVP Bengaluru has asked Union ministers to permanently cancel a documentary screening on Umar Khalid at NLSIU, after the September 14 event was postponed.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Bengaluru has escalated its opposition to a proposed screening of a documentary on imprisoned activist Umar Khalid at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), writing to Union ministers seeking a permanent cancellation of the event.
The screening, organised by the university's Law and Society (LawSoc) Committee, was scheduled for September 14 as part of Political Prisoners' Day. It was postponed by the students, who cited security and logistics concerns, after objections were raised by ABVP and other right-wing activists.
In its representation, ABVP said it had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal. The letter calls for Central intervention to enforce what it describes as a complete and permanent cancellation of the event, and seeks a high-level inquiry into the NLSIU administration.
The organisation has demanded that the ministers direct the university management to revoke all permissions permanently, ensuring that the documentary is not filmed, screened or promoted on campus under any pretext. It has also sought a comprehensive inquiry into how permission was granted for the event, alleging that formal complaints submitted by student bodies were ignored.
ABVP has further urged the enforcement of strict guidelines across Central and national universities to prevent publicly funded institutional infrastructure from being used for what it termed anti-national narratives under the guise of academic freedom.
The documentary in question is Lalit Vachani's Mr. Khalid Prisoner No. 626710. According to students, such a screening is not new to the campus, with a similar event having been held in 2025 on Political Prisoners' Day. This year, the planned screening was to be followed by discussions on pre-trial detention, civil liberties and other aspects of Mr. Khalid's case.
Although the documentary was not shown, students organised a reading session on the evening of September 14. A student said the screening may have been stopped but reading could not be, adding that a recent letter written by Mr. Khalid to family, friends and others was read out on the occasion, along with a reading of the preamble of the Indian Constitution.
The university's Vice-Chancellor has been approached for a response on the matter.