New Delhi: Taking on the Narendra-Modi led government, JNU Students’ Union President Kanhaiya Kumar made a fiery speech on the university campus on Thursday night, hours after his release from jail.
“I come from a village. Where there are 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),” 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 want freedom from India but those who are looting India,” he said, in the end. While Mr Kumar was speaking, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted praise for his speech.
Arrested on charges of sedition last month, 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, Kumar’s name was 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.
