Hyderabad, Feb. 20 -- On February 17, the Press Club of India in New Delhi hosted the release of "Umar Khalid and His World," a book put together by his friends, supporters and fellow travellers, honouring his convictions and his belief in the secular idea of Hindu-Muslim unity. But the occasion quickly became something more than a book launch. It turned into a gathering of solidarity for a man who has been sitting in Tihar jail since September 13, 2020 - over six years now, without a single day of trial. You cannot even describe him as an undertrial.

Denial of bail for six years running is, perhaps, unparalleled and unprecedented, resulting in an endless wait for justice. Sensing that no case can be made in a court of law against Khalid...