Let Court Decide If My Son Is Seditionist: Umar Khalid’s Father

Syed Ilyas, father of Umar Khalid, a student accused of shouting “anti-national” slogans in JNU, speaks up.

Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas (right), father of Umar Khalid (left), one of the ten JNU students accused of shouting “anti-national” slogans on the campus, has spoken up. (Photo: The Quint/ANI screengrab)

Father of Umar Khalid, one of the ten JNU students accused of shouting “anti-national” slogans on the campus said it is for the judiciary to decide whether he was involved in the case. He demanded that his son should be spared a “media trial”.

Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas said his son was fighting for the cause of tribals and poor farmers and that he has always stood with them.

Police is looking for Khalid, who is accused of shouting anti-India slogans during an event on February 9 at the JNU campus against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.