New Delhi: Slapped with the charge of sedition, JNUSU leader Kanhaiya Kumar today said that he condemned the incident at the JNU campus on February 9, terming the entire episode as unfortunate. Kanhaiya also told the magistrate court that he is an Indian who has full faith in judiciary and the Constitution, a statement the police latched on to say that it will not oppose his bail.
The JNUSU leader, who was today produced at the Patiala House Court complex amid chaos, issued a hand-written statement issued by Kanhaiya. In the statement, Kanhaiya has called for peace and also condemned the February 9 incident at JNU campus, which witnessed alleged anti-national slogans being raised.
“On February 9, 2016, our university witnessed an unfortunate incident which I condemn. One can tell after going through videos from different sources that some students of JNU as well as some outsiders were raising some unconstitutional slogans. As part of my constitutional commitment, I do not support such slogans. I appeal that peace of the country, society and universities should not be disturbed in this regard," Kanhaiya's statement, written in Hindi, read.
"I have said earlier too. I am an Indian. I have full faith in the Constitution as well as the judiciary of the country," Kumar had earlier told metropolitan magistrate Lovleen when he was produced for remand proceedings.
Kanhaiya also flayed the media trial against him saying it was painful. " If there is evidence against me that I am a traitor, then you please send me to jail. But if there no evidence against me, there should be no media trial," he said in a statement at the start of the proceedings.
Kumar, who has been booked under sedition charge in connection with an event in JNU where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised last week, has been arrested by Delhi Police. He has been remanded to judicial custody till March 2.
Reacting to the statement, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said if Kumar applies for bail, then police will not object to it.
"I personally feel, a young person...perhaps be given bail," he told reporters.
Kumar told the committee of lawyers sent by the Supreme Court to asses the situation in Patiala House Court that he was treated well by the police.
"I have no complaints against the police. When I was brought to the court, a mob attacked me. Police was escorting me to the court room and they tried their best to save me from the mob. But still, I was beaten up. Even some of the police officials were assaulted," he said.
The magistrate immediately ordered medical examination of Kumar by a team of doctors inside the court. The magistrate also ordered the DCP (Security) present in the court to ensure that there is no attack on him. He also directed the Superintendent of Tihar jail to ensure security of Kumar.
(With PTI inputs)
