Elgar Parishad case: JNU student Umar Khalid says 'no one gave any script for speech'

In a recent update to Elgaar Parish case which is one of two ongoing investigations related to  Koregaon Bhima violence witnessed on January 1, 2018, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid has told National Investigation Agency (NIA) that no one h given him a script for his speech. JNU student Umar Khalid was among those who h participated in Elgaar Parish and me speeches, which allegedly led to violence in Bhima-Koregaon in Pune.

Khalid, in his statement to investigating agency, has said that Justice (retired) BG Kolse-Patil, one of organisers of event h invited him to meeting. His statement was part of voluminous set of documents that NIA submitted as ditional evidence before special court recently. 

"During my visit to Pune, I stayed at house of Justice (retired) Kolse Patil. I don't remember who arranged flight tickets for me. Before delivering my speech at any place, I take local knowledge from any known person. No one h given me any script of speech for Elgar Parish meeting," student-activist has stated.

He ded that at Elgar Parish meeting, many people were present on stage and a video of it can be seen on YouTube along with his speech. He informed that he went to retd Justice Kolse Patil's house after event got over. 

"Next day, many media persons came to his house I h also given one bite to a media person. At that time many persons related to Elgar Parish meeting were present in Justice Kolse Patil's house. At about 11 am, I came to know that BJP and RSS persons h attacked people who came to visit Bhima Koregaon", statement quoting Khalid said.

Khalid has also told NIA that he knew Rona Wilson who is an accused in Elgar Parish case, as she h come to JNU to deliver a speech, and he also knew Arun Ferreira, anor accused who he h met at a book launch event.

Elgar parish case

A Pune resident h lodged a police complaint against JNU student claiming that Khalid me 'provocative' speeches at an event organised to commemorate 200th anniversary of battle of Bhima-Koregaon at Shaniwar Wa and his remarks were aimed at creating disharmony and rift between communities, which led to violence in 2018.  

Though an FIR was registered against Khalid, he was never me an accused of allegedly making provocative speeches in Elgar Parish-Maoist links case, which  NIA has decided to take over from Pune police. 

case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered on December 31, 2017, at Elgar Parish conclave, held at Shaniwar Wa in Pune, which police claimed triggered violence next day near Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on city's outskirts.

(With PTI input)

(Image: UmarKhalidJNU/Facebook/PTI)