‘You will rise, Umar Khalid’: TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s poem after SC denies bail

The political debate around jailed student activist Umar Khalid intensified on Wednesday after Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra expressed support through a poem shared on social media. Her post came shortly after the Supreme Court rejected Khalid’s bail plea in connection with an alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 north-east Delhi riots.

Moitra posted the poem, titled “You will rise, Umar Khalid,” on X, echoing themes of resilience and defiance. The verses, which speak of enduring falsehoods, hatred and persecution, were widely circulated online and quickly drew sharp reactions across the political spectrum.

The Supreme Court, while denying bail to Umar Khalid, observed that he could approach the trial court again once the examination of all prosecution witnesses is completed. The court also noted that Khalid would be eligible to seek bail if the prosecution fails to examine all witnesses within a year.

The issue has remained politically charged following reports that a group of students at Jawaharlal Nehru University raised controversial slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the bail denial. The sloganeering reportedly took place during a gathering organised to condemn the violence that occurred on the campus on January 5, 2020.

BJP leaders strongly criticised both the slogans and expressions of support for Khalid. Senior leaders accused opposition parties and student groups of standing with individuals they labelled as anti-national, asserting that such actions undermine national unity and security. The reactions have further polarised the discourse surrounding Khalid’s case.