The BJP on Monday stated that the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots case was a major setback for the Congress and demanded that the opposition party issue an apology for backing what it described as the “tukde-tukde gang.” Labeling Khalid and Imam as prominent symbols of divisive elements in the country, the BJP alleged that the Congress network had attempted to portray them as innocent in order to shield them from accountability.

The Supreme Court rejected the bail pleas of Khalid and Imam in the conspiracy case related to the 2020 Delhi riots, observing that a prima facie case existed against them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. However, a bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria granted bail to activists Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad.

Responding to the verdict, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted on X, writing “Satyameva Jayate (truth alone triumphs),” and asserted that the court had acknowledged the validity of the initial allegations against Khalid and Imam. He urged the Congress to apologise for its alleged support of the so-called “tukde-tukde gang,” naming individuals from Afzal to Umar and Sharjeel.

Another BJP spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari, described the court’s decision as a significant blow to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress ecosystem, accusing them of depicting Khalid and Imam as blameless victims. He further claimed that in both public perception and the judicial process, what he termed Gandhi’s “urban Naxals” had suffered defeat.