New Delhi, Mar 4: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union President Kanhaiya Kumar in his blistering speech on Thursday night convinced Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party that what the students wanted was “freedom in India, not freedom from India.”
Addressing a huge gathering of students on the campus, soon after release from Tihar Jail, Mr. Kumar said: “It is not azadi from India, it is azadi in India [we want]... from the corrupt practices that are going on inside the country.” Mr. Kumar made his fiery speech at the same place where he had addressed students just a day before his arrest.
In his “home-coming” speech, Mr. Kumar took on the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the university and its students were targeted because they took on the government through Occupy UGC movement and demanded justice for Hyderabad University student Rohith Vemula.
"I have many differences with the prime minister but I agree with his tweet - Satyameva Jayate. I also say Satyameva Jayate, the truth shall triumph, because it belongs to the country and the Constitution," said the 28-yearold, showing no signs of trauma from his jail stint and the attack on him by lawyers at Patiala House courts.
Taking the fight directly to Mr Modi, Kanhaiya said, "Mann ki baat karte hain, sunte nahi (He speaks his mind but doesn't listen)... Today the PM was speaking about Stalin and Khrushchev. I felt like entering the TV and telling him, 'Modiji, please speak about Hitler and Mussolini'."
Amid loud cheers from nearly 3,000 students, Kanhaiya said he saluted the soldiers guarding the country. "But the soldiers who die at the border are the sons and brothers of those who die within the country," he said, referring to farmer suicides. "Don't create a false divide." His reference was clearly to criticism that those raising 'anti-national' slogans insulted the sacrifices of martyred soldiers.
"Soldiers are not responsible for war but those making them fight are. Is it wrong to ask for freedom from the problems in the country?" he asked, amid cries of "Aawaz do, hum ek hain" by the students, who swayed back and forth as they chanted slogans at the end of his speech.
“The attack on JNU is a planned one as they want to de-legitimise the UGC protest, and to dilute the fight for justice for Rohith Vemula,” he said.
He started his one-hour long address by thanking everyone who supported him and the university during the crisis, before targeting the government.
“I come from a village, where there are magic shows. People show magic and sell rings that fulfil 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),” he said.
Comments
Dear Rakesh how you know he lieing? Your leaders are saying he is anti nationalist and he shouted slogans? Is it true? Why your leaders lie to the country people? Where is black money? Did we receive 15 lakhs? First tell the truth. Then shw finger at others. The student will go in the same line drawn by the teacher. If teacher is like this how you will expect from others? The person without an info land in opposition country and enjoying party, when our fellow brother is fighting in the border.
Just as TV channels helped catapult Kejriwal into national stature, same strategy at work for Kanhaiyya. Likely to work again
#liarKanhaiya said RSS chief Golwalkar met Mussolini. I never expected a JNU student to speak blatant lie in public.
Jacket Jeans mein aaya kanhaiya band bajane ko, youth ki dhun pe naach nachane Modi ke diwano ko #KanhaiyaKumar #JNU
In glorifying #KanhaiyaKumar Opposition and media are ignoring the court judgment! Only motto is to pull down @narendramodi!
What a spunky victory speech by Kanhaiya Kumar at JNU! As long as our student community is so brave and fiercely free, India will be proud.
KanhaiyaKumar is now like the legendary Che Guevara ; a young man who symbolizes a new young irrepressible India that believes in itself.
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