Karnataka Congress chief B.K. Hariprasad's statement labeling jailed student activist Umar Khalid as a "nationalist" has sparked a complaint from Hindutva activist Tejas Gowda. The complaint, filed at Vidhana Soudha police station, alleges that Hariprasad's remarks incite hatred and are objectionable towards the ABVP.

Karnataka Congress chief B.K. Hariprasad's statement labeling jailed student activist Umar Khalid as a "nationalist" has sparked a complaint from Hindutva activist Tejas Gowda. The complaint, filed at Vidhana Soudha police station, alleges that Hariprasad's remarks incite hatred and are objectionable towards the ABVP.

Karnataka Congress chief B.K. Hariprasad's statement labeling jailed student activist Umar Khalid as a "nationalist" has sparked a complaint from Hindutva activist Tejas Gowda. The complaint, filed at Vidhana Soudha police station, alleges that Hariprasad's remarks incite hatred and are objectionable towards the ABVP.

A complaint has now been filed against Karnataka Congress chief B.K. Hariprasad after he called the jailed student activist Umar Khalid a "nationalist" on Tuesday.

According to Kannada media, Hindutva activist Tejas Gowda has filed a complaint at the Vidhana Soudha police station against B.K. Hariprasad for allegedly using objectionable words against the ABVP. He has urged the police to register a case, alleging that the Congress leader's statements are creating hatred in society.

"Yesterday evening, KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad made a statement. He said that Umar Khalid is a nationalist. He made a statement about a terrorist while standing at Vidhana Soudha. He is speaking about a person who incited riots in Delhi. He has made a statement that could create hatred in society," Tejas Gowda was quoted as saying by TV9 Kannada.

"I have filed a complaint at the Vidhana Soudha police station against B.K. Hariprasad’s statement. Those who speak about terrorists are equal to terrorists. The police have said they will consult legal experts and take action," he reportedly told the press after filing the complaint.

Hariprasad backed Umar Khalid after the RSS-linked Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) opposed the screening of a documentary film on Khalid at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU). For the unversed, Khalid, who was arrested in September 2020, was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for being one of the "masterminds" of the February 2020 riots that left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured in Delhi.

Hariprasad said the ABVP has no right to speak on the jailed leader. "Umar Khalid is a nationalist. The ABVP has no right to speak about Khalid because the ABVP adores Nathuram Godse, who was an anti-national and a terrorist—the first terrorist of the country. They have no moral right or moral standing to speak about Khalid," Hariprasad told reporters.

According to local media, NLSIU Bengaluru has postponed the screening of the documentary following the controversy. It was originally scheduled to take place at 7:00 pm on Monday, September 14.

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