NewDelhi/Nagpur: JNU Students’ Union President Kanhaiya Kumar made a fiery speech on the university campus late tonight taking on the Narendra Modi-led government, hours after his release from jail.
“I come from a village. Where there are a magic shows. People show magic and sell rings that fulfill all wishes…We have some people like that in our country, who say black money will come back, sabka saath sabka vikas (development for all),” Mr Kumar taking a dig at the BJP’s election promises. “We Indians forget too soon but this time the tamasha (show) is too big and these jumlas (gimmicks) won’t be forgotten,” he said amid applause and laughter from the gathered crowd of supporters.
He began his speech shouting slogans of “Azadi (freedom) from hunger, corruption, discrimination and backwardness.” He steered clear of saying anything on the case against him. “The matter is sub-judice, I have nothing to say on what is under the court,” he said. Calling the BJP-linked students’ organisation ABVP “a political opponent and not an enemy” Mr Kumar said he has “serious political differences with Mr Modi but will agree with his tweet in which he said Satyamev Jayate (truth will win).”
“We don’t freedom from India but those who are looting India,” he said, in the end. While Mr Kumar was speaking, Delhi chief minister tweeted in praise of his speech.
What a brilliant speech by Kanhaiya…
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 3, 2016
Some snippets from his speech:
“We want freedom not from India but from those who loot India.”
“We will pursue this fight that was begun by Rohith Vemula and all of you and we will see it till it’s end!”
“The PM had tweeted ‘Satyameva Jayate’. I am also saying the same thing.”
“The ABVP is not our enemy. They are our opposition.”
“This is a long fight. We will fight it without bowing!”
“The attack on JNU was planned to distract us from the UGC protest and dilute the fight for justice for Rohith Vemula.”
Arrested on charges of sedition last month, Mr Kumar was released from Tihar jail this evening amid high security and celebrations by supporters in New Delhi.
The Delhi High Court had granted him interim bail for six months late last evening, imposing conditions that include an undertaking that he will not take part in any unlawful or ‘anti-national’ activities. His lawyers reached Tihar Jail in the evening and handed over the release order to jail officials.
He was taken out of the jail amid security through a residential colony and then to a nearby police station. From there he went to the JNU campus.
Earlier today, Mr Kumar and another student, Umer Khalid, who was also charged with sedition were cleared in a Delhi Government inquiry.
There is no evidence that Kanhaiya Kumar raised anti-national slogans at an event on February 9 to mark the anniversary of the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, the Delhi government report said. No witness had been found to such utterances by the student either, said the report.
In video footage, Umar Khalid is heard urging “Kashmiris keep fighting, we are with you”. The report said his views on Kashmir and Afzal are well-known.
