Umar Khalid is facing trial for his alleged involvement in the Delhi Riots. While liberals have attempted to paint him with a humane face, his troubling antecedents were always known. Now, we can confirm that Umar Khalid had ties to Maoist frontal organisations.
It is hard to say how deep these ties were. But the ties cannot be denied. The organisation at the root of this is called the United Students Democratic Front (USDF). Umar Khalid in 2016-17 often promoted them on social media. He even quoted their posts verbatim.
Umar Khalid even shared the USDF statement on Demonetization.
He has also promoted an USDF event on “How Naxalbari is still relevant in Students’ Politics”.
These posts are enough to demonstrate an ideological congruence between Khalid and the USDF. But who are the USDF? Let’s delve right into it.
Who are the United Students Democratic Federation (USDF)?
The USDF is one of the Maoist frontal organisations operating out of West Bengal. It is the UPA Government that said this in the Parliament in 2014. Then Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, RPN Singh, had said in response to a question on Maoist front organisations. The USDF was one of the 7 Maoist front organisations operating in West Bengal in 2014.
RPN Singh also explained the modus operandi of these organisations. He said, “On occasions, during operations by security forces, the CPI(Maoist) underground cadres shift to softer areas including urban areas looking for safe hideouts. On such occasions, the overground front organizations provide safe hideouts to armed cadres.”
He added, “The front organizations also facilitate procurement of supplies etc. to the Maoist war machinery. They also initiate legal action on various issues to slow down the enforcement regime. They are also adept at dissemination of propaganda and disinformation to demonize the state and the security forces. Of late, it has also come to notice that members of such front organizations are mentoring ‘Professional Revolutionaries’ to be inducted into the underground movement.”
So here we have clear proof that Umar Khalid had ties to Maoist front organisations.
The Rebranding of USDF
Sometime after 2017, it is unclear when exactly, the USDF rebranded itself as the Revolutionary Students’ Front (RSF). Their ideology has not changed at all. Only their Facebook Page has turned from ‘United Students’ Democratic Front – USDF’ to ‘Revolutionary Students’ Front – RSF’.
When you click hover the cursor over the USDF page link in Khalid’s post, it shows a preview of the RSF page. When you click on the link, it takes you to RSF’s page. This is the clearest indication that the USDF rebranded itself as the RSF.
Here's what happens you hover the curson above the USDF profile link in Umar Khalid's post.
— Sensei Kraken Zero (@YearOfTheKraken) August 28, 2025
When you click on it, it open to RSF page. pic.twitter.com/5Fp3buylLx
The RSF still advocates the Maoist ideology. The RSF has organised ‘memorial meetings’ to ‘honour’ the martyrdom of Naxalites eliminated during Operation Kagaar. It refers to Maoists as ‘martyrs’ and ‘revolutionaries’, the traditional vocabulary adopted by Radical Communist organisations for Naxalites.
The RSF also produced a documentary denouncing Operation Kaagar. It said, “Even as revolutionary groups have repeatedly appealed for a ceasefire and dialogue, the state has responded with bullets, not words. Why? Because Operation Kagar is the blueprint for building a Corporate Hindu Rashtra — crushing resistance, grabbing land, erasing indigenous lives, and outlawing dissent.”
The RSF also has links to the Nazariya Magazine and bsCEM. bsCEM is the same organisation that has come under scrutiny after its members chanted ‘Comrade Hidma Amar Rahe’ at a Delhi Protest. Our complete report on RSF can be read here.
