New Delhi [India], May 19 (ANI): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday condemned the arrest of Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad and said that it showed how 'fearful the BJP is of any opinion.'

'The Indian National Congress stands with our Armed Forces, bureaucrats, academicians, intellectuals and their families. I condemn any character assassination, vilification, trolling, harassment, unlawful arrest of any individual and vandalism of any business entity, either through fringe elements or through official state machinery. The arrest of Ashoka University professor, Ali Khan Mahmudabad shows how fearful the BJP is of any opinion, disliked by them,' Kharge posted on X.

The Congress leader further referred to the recent remarks made by Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and said that BJP-RSS is 'hell bent on casting a narrative.'

'This follows a chain reaction which began from targeting the grieving widow of our martyred Naval officer, our Foreign Secretary and his daughter, and the deplorable disparaging comments made by a BJP Minister for a serving Colonel in the Indian Army. Instead of sacking their own Madhya Pradesh's Deputy CM & Minister, who made disgusting statements against our valiant Armed Forces, BJP-RSS is hellbent in casting a narrative that anybody who represents Pluralism, questions the government or simply performs his professional duty in the service of the nation, is a threat to its existence,' he said.

The Congress chief said that supporting the Armed Forces and the government, when National Interest reigns supreme, 'does not mean that we cannot question the Government.'

'While National Unity is supreme for the Congress party, BJP should be under no impression that it can foster Dictatorship under the garb of the present developments. Democracy should stand tall,' Kharge said.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court agreed to hear plea of Ali Khan Mahmudabad, associate professor and head of the Political Science department at Ashoka University in Haryana, against his arrest over a social media post on Operation Sindoor.

A bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih said it would list the matter for hearing on May 20 or 21.

The bench agreed to give urgent hearing of the plea after senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned it seeking urgent hearing. 'He has been arrested for a patriotic statement. Please list it,' Sibal said.

On Sunday, Mahmudabad was remanded to two-day police custody after the Haryana police arrested him from the national capital, following the registration of two separate cases.

Arrested on Sunday from his residence, Mahmudabad was charged with, among other things, endangering India's sovereignty, unity and integrity for his comments on Operation Sindoor.

The State Women's Commission had earlier termed Mahmudabad's social media comments as disparaging toward women officers in the Indian Armed Forces and said it also promoted communal disharmony. On May 13, Bhatia had dispatched the summons to the associate professor.

He clarified that his comments had been completely misunderstood.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, targeting terror bases in Pakistan in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. (ANI)