Umar Khalid's pre-recorded message: ‘If you are watching this video, it means I have been arrested’
A video message recorded by activist and former Jawaharlal Nehru University student Umar Khalid before his arrest was played at a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday. Khalid was arrested by Delhi Police late on Sunday night under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged role in the communal violence that broke out in North-East Delhi in February 2020.
“If you are watching this video, it means that I have been arrested,” Khalid said in the video. “The Delhi Police is not arresting the rioters who incited and caused the large-scale communal violence in the capital in February. But instead, it is going after those who criticize the government and its policies, especially the Citizenship Amendment Act. The ones who participated in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests are being wrongly framed without proofs,” he added.
Khalid talked about an old speech of his that had been mischievously edited and made viral with the claim that it was an attempt to incite riots. The activist also claimed that the police are coercing people into giving false declarations with the intent of locking up all those who criticize the government behind the bars.
Ending his message with an appeal, Khalid urged listeners “not to be scared”.
“Strengthen your voice against injustice,” he said.
Video statement by @UmarKhalidJNU recorded just before his attest, released at the PC today at Press Club of India. Do listen to these courageous, inspiring words. pic.twitter.com/r4yZlLFDuv
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) September 16, 2020
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
