The Price of Dissent in Modi’s India
Umar Khalid, a prominent Indian political activist, has been imprisoned for four years without trial, illustrating the Modi government’s harsh suppression of dissent. In early 2020, Mr. Khalid played a key role in organizing a massive protest against laws perceived as anti-Muslim. Soon after, he was arrested under a state security law traditionally used for violent insurgencies. This law allows pretrial detention for indefinite periods, and Mr. Khalid’s requests for bail have been repeatedly denied or delayed.The protest movement he helped lead arose in response to a series of measures that marginalized Muslims, including the revocation of Kashmir's autonomy and the exclusion of Muslims from a new citizenship law. Though the demonstrations remained nonviolent, tensions escalated after inflammatory statements from right-wing leaders. The ensuing violence in Delhi disproportionately affected Muslims, who were targeted by both police and Hindu mobs.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s judicial system has increasingly been used to stifle opposition, particularly against Muslims. Mr. Khalid’s family endures this ordeal, finding brief moments of comfort during rare, court-permitted visits. Despite the ongoing legal limbo, he remains active in prison, offering support to other inmates and maintaining hope for eventual justice.
The case of Umar Khalid is a stark reminder of the heavy price of dissent in Modi’s India, where speaking out—especially as a Muslim—can lead to prolonged imprisonment without a fair trial. His situation reflects broader concerns about the erosion of democratic freedoms and the targeting of minorities under Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government.
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