Ovais Sultan Khan Speaks Out Against 'Government Agent, Traitor' Allegations; Calls His Involvement In Bail Denial To Anti-CAA Protestors "False"

Ovais Sultan Khan, a Delhi-based human rights activist who allegedly gave witness statements against several demonstrators during the anti-CAA protest, recently issued a statement against an ongoing “social media smear campaign”, alleging him a community traitor and government agent. Several users claim Ovais Sultan Khan played pivotal roles in jailing many protesters as well as facilitating the bail denial to former JNU student activist activist Umar Khalid by giving testimony against him.

Responding to the allegations, Sultan Khan says for the last few days, he has been subject to a social media character assassination and it has now turned into a well-organized IT-cell level of effort. He says he wanted to clarify that all the allegations, including that his actions have led to the imprisonment and denial of bail of certain Muslim youth around CAA/NRC protests and Delhi 2020 anti-Muslim riots, were entirely false and baseless. “I am not responsible for anything that is being claimed so furiously,” the rights activist said.

Read Also: In Delhi Riots Cases, Bail Pleas To Be Heard Afresh For Third Time After Judges’ New Appointments

Sultan Khan claims people who have been incarcerated have other reasons for their circumstances, adding that he is not at all guilty of it. “I am being labeled as a traitor, broker, informer, approver, agent, government man, policeman, and more. As evidence, these social media accounts, post news articles, and court orders mention my name. I want to make it clear that I have not given the chat of the DPSG (Delhi Protest Support Group) WhatsApp group to the police or the government. Nor have I provided any screenshots of this group chat to anyone,” he said.

The right activist further asserted that he has not given any testimony in any court. “Anyone who reads the bail order that is being circulated, with my name highlighted, will understand that it refers to messages I had sent on the Delhi Protest Support Group (DPSG) WhatsApp group days before the riots,” he said, claiming that these messages were aimed at preventing communal violence, and they do not represent any statement as a witness.

Read Also: Swara Bhasker Rips Into Judiciary And Media As Umar Khalid Completes 4 Years In Jail Without Bail

Sultan Khan then said that he opposes the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and believes that the protest that began in Shaheen Bagh and spread globally is one of the most significant and beautiful movements in our country’s history. However, the critics had claimed that the human right activist had supported the implementation of CAA.

Sultan Khan went on to explain his story crippled by communal violence. “My family lived in Lal Kuan in Old Delhi long before I was born. They relocated to New Seelampur in Yamuna-Paar due to the communal violence that occurred in Lal Kuan during that time. After the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, my kindergarten school in New Jafrabad was set on fire by rioters. I still vividly remember the fear we felt as all the women and children in our neighborhood were gathered in our home, while many of the elders and younger family members stayed there as well. We were kept awake at night for many months. I recall the wounds of the victims of the Kokrajhar riots in Assam in December 2012, as well as the pain experienced by the victims of the Muzaffarnagar violence in September 2013. During the communal tensions in Trilokpuri, Delhi, in 2015, I took the initiative to go there, confront the mob, and stand with the victims,” Sultan Khan remembers.

Noting that he knew the pain of riots, Sultan Khan says when some individuals began protesting on Jafrabad Roadside in North East Delhi, the residents, including him, “made a conscious effort to avoid blocking any traffic. “Our neighborhood is distinctly different from Shaheen Bagh. The protest proceeded peacefully along the roadside, largely due to the sensitivity of our area. Previous roadblocks have led to violence in 1992, 2006, and December 2019, resulting in significant suffering for our innocent community members. I was determined to prevent a recurrence of such incidents,” he elaborated, adding that he fought both on the ground and on social media, prioritizing the safety of local residents above my own well-being.

Sultan Khan affirms that his sole aim was to protect his people and the area from the chaos of riots, highlighting that any unrest would only lead to another episode of senseless destruction and loss and that both Hindus and Muslims in the community would ultimately bear the brunt of the consequences.

“I believe in fostering unity within society through mutual trust, respect, and dialogue among communities. Like my elders, I advocate for friendship between Hindus and Muslims. This is why I have consistently stood up against powerful forces,” he said.

Sultan Khan explains that in February 2020, despite their best efforts, certain people—some of whom are now being portrayed as heroes by social media handles—instigated riots in their area, claiming that the residents in his area were angry with the outsiders their associates who had blocked the roads.

He claims since the riot took place, many have started to disseminate false information about him and said he is aware of the individuals orchestrating the situation. “This coordinated attack has incited a frenzied crowd against me, which could potentially lead to physical harm to me and my family. However, I want to make it clear that I am not afraid of them. Although they operate behind the scenes through their agents, they are aware of the truth in their hearts,” Sultan Khan said.

The right activist sums up his statement, saying he has refrained from addressing any rumors that have circulated until now, but due to the concerning and organized campaign being conducted by the supporters of the riots, he felt it was important to share his perspective on the issue. “I took every possible action to prevent the riots. And in the future, whenever the court calls me to ask me about the reason for my protest against the riots in this case, I will definitely fulfill my duty as a citizen,” Sultan Khan concludes.

Several X users have shared documents, including the bail cancellation order of a court for Umar Khalid, in which Sultan Khan’s testimony was seen as a statement against the student activist, who was jailed for his speeches opposing the CAA and NRC that allegedly led to Delhi riots, as per police. Many claimed Ovais Sultan Khan supported CAA and worked against those who opposed the law along with the government.

1. Umar Khalid’s Bail Denial:
▪️ Owais Sultan Khan’s testimony played a pivotal role in rejecting Umar Khalid’s bail application.
▪️ His name appeared prominently in the bail cancellation order, acting as a government witness. pic.twitter.com/UiYILpP8Xg

— Mohd Shadab Khan (@VoxShadabKhan) October 16, 2024