Umar Khalid, a prominent student activist and critic of the Modi government, granted his first interview from Delhi’s Tihar prison where he has been held for approximately six years without trial. Khalid rose to prominence as a fiery student activist and became a leading figure in anti-government protests that swept India in 2019, which represented the first major political challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.
Khalid was arrested in September 2020 and charged with terrorism offenses, including allegations that he was a “key conspirator” in deadly religious riots that occurred in Delhi and that he conspired to bring about violent regime change. The charges, which Khalid describes as “dystopian,” came despite his being approximately 1,000 miles away when the sectarian violence erupted in February 2020. The riots resulted in 53 deaths, with the majority being Muslim. However, when Delhi police filed their charge sheets, no figures associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party were accused, and very few Hindu rioters faced charges. International human rights organizations have condemned Khalid’s prolonged detention without trial as unjust.
Khalid, a Muslim and leftist rights advocate, has been a fierce critic of what he characterizes as the BJP’s Hindu nationalist agenda and its impact on India’s 200 million Muslims and other minorities. He has accused the Modi government of fueling persecution of these populations. The BJP maintains that India’s judicial system operates independently and that Khalid’s prosecution is unrelated to politics. Despite repeated bail applications, judges have consistently denied his requests, with some magistrates delaying, adjourning, or recusing themselves from the proceedings.
While incarcerated, Khalid has reflected on the psychological toll of prolonged captivity, noting that conditions are particularly difficult at sunset. He expressed frustration with opposition parties and civil society groups for what he views as insufficient advocacy for political prisoners detained under the Modi administration. Khalid stated that remaining silent in the face of what he describes as increasing Hindu nationalism and hate speech would be unacceptable, even as he acknowledges the severe impact his imprisonment has had on his mental and physical health.
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