Owaisi Blames Congress for Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam's Prolonged Incarceration without Trial

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{ "title": "Owaisi Blames Congress for Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam's Prolonged Incarceration without Trial", "article": "AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi has accused the Congress of contributing to the prolonged imprisonment of scholar-activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been jailed without trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for their alleged involvement in the 2020 Delhi riots.Owaisi pointed out that the Congress, when led by P Chidambaram as Union Home Minister, had amended the UAPA, introducing a definition of terrorism that he believes has led to the prolonged incarceration of undertrial prisoners, including Khalid and Imam.The Supreme Court recently rejected their bail plea, stating that the gravity of the alleged offence and their purported central role in the conspiracy disentitled them to relief at this stage.Owaisi, who had previously raised concerns about the UAPA in the Lok Sabha, claimed that the law's provisions, particularly clause 43D, allow for detention without a chargesheet for up to 180 days, leading to minorities being routinely detained for the maximum period. He argued that there is a 'huge difference between truth and hope,' and that minorities are often targeted by the law."