In order to press for the release of Jawaharlal Nehru UNiversity (JNU) student Umar Khalid, who is in judicial custody in connection with allegedly shouting anti-national slogans on campus, his 12-year-old sister Sara on Sunday launched ‘Walk for Sara’ campaign.
The campaign will end with a protest march from Mandi House to the Parliament House on Tuesday.
“I and my family wish to see Khalid bhai free, not in jail. He has been speaking for liberty since school days and must not get caged,” said Khalid’s other sister Fatima, 25.
She added: “We have launched our campaign poster on social media – ‘Walk with Sara so she can scold Umar’ and ‘Walk with me (Sara) so that I can debate with him again’.”
“I need him back. He is not a terrorist, he is a good person,” said Sara.
“If he has done a mistake, let him free we will scold him, why is he in jail?,” Sara questioned.
“The march will attract wider participation from the Left’s group,” said Sandeep, a state council member of the All-India Students’ Association.
“The JNUSU and the JNU teachers’ association will not leave any stone unturned to protect and uphold the right to free speech and our support to Khalid and Anirban is to save JNU from this assault on freedom,” said a member of the JNU teachers’ association, requesting anonymity.
Earlier, a group of women’s organisations and human rights bodies had written to the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), Chief Minister of Delhi, Minority Commission and National Human Rights Commission, stating that Khalid’s family was feeling insecure and the government should ensure their and Khalid’s security.
A case against Khalid and Bhattacharya was registered at the Vasant Kunj police station, soon after Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested under charges of sedition on February 12 after the event held on the university campus against the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.