Umar Khalid draws Deepika Padukone's JNU visit into his politics, says times are changing

Soon after Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone's visit to JNU campus in Delhi on Tuesday, former JNU student Umar Khalid co-opted her, lauding her presence and thanking her for standing up against 'fascist bullies'.

Bollywood actor visited campus a day after shocking violence was unleashed on students re by armed goons, following which an almighty political blame-game has broken out over attackers' identities. Her presence has been mired in controversy owing to imminent release of her upcoming film Chhapaak, with sources claiming that promotions for film may have had something to do with her sudden visit to JNU.

At JNU, she was seen with a crowd of sloganeers that included former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, who, somewhat surprisingly said later that he didn't see Deepika on campus. Like Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid is also one of those named as an accused in 2016 JNU Sedition case chargesheet regarding raising of anti-national slogans such as 'Bharat Tere Tukde Honge' to protest hanging 2001 Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru. 

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' times are changing'

Via his tweet, Umar Khalid has also issued a challenge to or prominent members of film fraternity.

Deepika Padukone at JNU protest

Actress Deepika Padukone made a surprise and whirlwind appearance at JNU amid a Left protest. She was also spotted talking with current JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh who was one of students attacked and injured by masked mob on Sunday, being discharged from hospital on Monday. ABVP has released a video claiming that Aishe was leading 'masked mob' while JNUSU has said that she was one stopping mob. 

READ | Deepika Padukone Reaches JNU, Joins Kanhaiya Kumar At Left Protest: Visuals Here

Sources report that actress spent only seven minutes outside Sabarmati campus where protests were going on. BJP has slammed her appearance and asked for a boycott of movie - 'Chhapaak'.

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