Shashi Tharoor backs Umar Khalid, says in today’s India, payback is reserved 'to our own citizens'

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor, on Monday, said that payback is not done against countries which have questioned India's sovereignty.

Key Highlights

• Khalid was arrested by Delhi Police on Sunday night

• The FIR by Delhi Police said that Khalid urged people to come on streets and protest against the alleged treatment given to minorities in India

New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on Monday, backed Delhi riots-accused JNU student Umar Khalid and said that in today's India, 'payback is only reserved to our own citizens', and not countries who 'actually question and challenge our sovereignty' of the country. 

"PM says he welcomes criticism but forgets to mention the cost of criticism to be paid by those who speak out. In today’s India, payback is only reserved to our own citizens, never against countries who actually question and challenge our sovereignty," Tharoor said in a tweet.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP's remarks came even as Delhi Police sought 10-day custody of the JNU student leader in connection with the riots in Delhi under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Khalid was arrested by the police on Sunday night.

In the FIR, the police claimed that the communal violence in Delhi was a premeditated conspiracy allegedly hatched by Khalid.

FIR said Khalid urged people to come on streets

As reported earlier, Khalid had allegedly given provocative speeches and appealed to citizens to come out on streets during the visit of US President Donald Trump purportedly to portray the treatment given to minorities in India.  Firearms, petrol bombs, acid bottles and stones were collected at numerous homes, the FIR claimed.

"Co-accused Danish was allegedly given the responsibility to gather people from two different places to take part in the riots, police alleged. Women and children were made to block the roads under the Jafrabad metro station on February 23 to create tension amidst the neighbourhood people," the FIR said.

Massive riots had broken out in Delhi on February 24 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). At least 53 people were killed and 200 injured during the riots. The riots were brought under control, only after a visit by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal besides others.