[Delhi Riots] Accused brought artistes to draw crowds at CAA, NRC protest sites: Prosecution to Delhi court

The prosecution in the Delhi Riots case on Saturday argued that the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) were not organic in nature, and that large crowds were drawn to these sites because of the entertainment provided by the accused [Umar Khalid v. State].

The arguments of Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad were made before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat in response to the bail plea filed by Umar Khalid.

Prasad argued,

“Normal women are not bothered by civil society, agenda-based protests. Bandar waala aata hai damroo bajayega (street performer comes with a monkey and beats the two-headed drum) so that environment is created. That is what happened here. You brought artistes, you gathered masses. You do some kind of performance.”

Prasad said that setting up of temporary toilets at the protest sites was an indication that people were brought from outside to participate in the protests. According to the prosecutor, the protest sites were set up to give out a secular colour, but that was only a facade.

The accused persons were said to have used the names of social reformers Savitribai Phule and Fatima Sheikh at the protest sites.

“Protest sites were at the poorest of the poor areas and narrow areas. The object was to use these populations as fodder,” he contended.

He added,

“There was no local involvement. They were managed by various teams. They were different teams. We precisely have shown this in our chargesheet."

Prasad had, on Friday, argued that Khalid and co-accused Sharjeel Imam had aimed to embarrass the government in front of international media, under the guise of protesting against the CAA and the NRC legislations.

The hearing will continue on Monday.