I don’t believe a single lie they are fabricating against this man: Kunal Kamra expresses solidarity with Umar Khalid

Stand-up comic Kunal Kamra launched an attack against arresting rights activists on Monday, taking to Twitter to criticise Delhi Police, which fall under the jurisdiction of Home Minister Amit Shah, for falsely implicating former JNU student leader and United Against Hate activist Umar Khalid in northeast Delhi violence case.

“Today I stand completely shattered, broken, helpless and tired,” Kamra has penned down an emotional note hours after Delhi Police arrested Umar Khalid under draconian UAPA in connection with the northeast Delhi violence conspiracy case.

“And it’s his hope that we draw strength from, today. Umar, who brought love and light and unity to the fight for this nation, even as we are defeated, today – we will keep talking about him. Let them feel sore that we talk of him. We will keep talking,” reads the note.

Kamra said that he doesn’t believe a single lie they are fabricating against Khalid.

Kamra is known for his popular political-comedy podcast ‘Shut Up Ya Kunal’, where he has spoken to guests including Khalid.

Read his note:

It’s been more than 3 years that I have known Umar, an up and down period from one trumped up allegation to another followed by an assassination attack and many death threats, intimidation tactics clubbed with having no political ambition or vested interest in doing what he did. He rejected scholarship offers from fancy universities abroad to choosing to do his Ph.D. in tribal studies in JNU. I can’t think of a single time we met where I genuinely asked him to get a teaching job abroad to which he always said, “If I run away to comfort myself I’d be doing a huge disservice to my community and to people who’ve shown faith in me up till now, what am I guilty off? If I run away I’d be compared to people who’ve run away from the country post their criminal activities.” Last we spoke, he told me that they have been intimidating powerless people who were close to Umar and the Delhi police is forcing them to testify against him. He laughingly said that every night I hit the bed thinking this could be the last night I spend at home. I think his merit was decided at birth with his identity. He had to compromise with the current atmosphere instead of dissenting. I have never felt this feeling of helplessness and anger because there’s no grey ares, another side, a possible doubt in my mind which makes me think he did something wrong for which he deserves to be jailed under UAPA.

My conclusion is that politics is not a space for people like Umar. I’d be lying if I hid my emotions and said things like let’s show a strong front and let’s not bow down to this hegemony. Today I stand completely shattered, broken, helpless and tired. Congratulations guys who’ve won yet again. There’s no ray of light I can spot for miles away. I started my internet career to seek beyond enlightenment but the last 5 years have pushed me in a dark space beyond depression. I have never felt this alone and helpless ever in my life. I can’t think the sort of torture and intimidation that will proceed towards Umar, an atheist born to a Muslim family who’s constantly paying the price for his identity. The funny thing is that even as I have lost faith, I know Umar hasn’t. His optimism trumps everything. And it’s his hope that we draw strength from, today. Umar, who brought love and light and unity to the fight for this nation, even as we are defeated, today – we will keep talking about him. Let them feel sore that we talk of him. We will keep talking. I don’t believe a single lie they are fabricating against this man.