Kanhaiya Kumar: Rohith is my idol, not Afzal

JNUSU chief says has no intention of joining politics or contesting election

A day after JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar earned accolades for his late night speech in the campus, the student leader on Friday said that his “idol is Rohith Vemula and not Afzal Guru.”

The Ph.D. student, who is facing sedition charge, said Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was a citizen of India and a debate on his death penalty is “legitimate.” Mr Kumar was arrested on February 12 in a case of alleged sedition after a controversial JNU event to commemorate Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s death anniversary on February 9 in which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

Amid speculation about his political ambitions, Mr Kumar made it clear at a press conference on Friday, “I am not a politician, I am a student.” He added: “I have no intention of joining mainstream politics or contesting any election. I want to question as a student and I will like to answer as a teacher in the future. So, the question about my political ambitions should be kept aside.”

On report that he will campaign for Left parties in upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls, he said, “The people of the country have not voted for me... It’s the students of the university who have. I am not the country’s president, but of the JNU students’ union. I will only talk of them and for them,” he said.

Mr Kumar insisted JNU students can never be anti-national as they understand the meaning of freedom of speech and meaning of freedom.

“My task is to study and fight for those who wish to study, but are unable to do so. Since the fight is long, there can’t be a victory march but a unity march on that,” the 29-year-old said.

Replying to a question, Mr Kumar said, “I am against patenting of nationalism and the concept of Akhand Bharat propagated by the ABVP and select sections of society.”

Reacting to the ongoing debate that taxpayers’ money is wasted in providing subsidy to the JNU, its Mr Kumar said he wanted to assure the countrymen that their taxes are invested in right place.

“I want to tell the people of the country that the taxes they pay are being invested in the right place. Taxpayers’ money is not wasted in JNU, but in maintaining big bungalows and free air travel. I urge the government to open more JNUs,” he said. Mr Kumar, who was released on interim bail on Thursday in a sedition case, said nationalism is not someone’s patent. “I am against patenting of nationalism and the concept of Akhand Bharat propagated by the ABVP and select sections of society”.

Referring to finding of forensic report, which found that some video in which Kanhaiya was allegedly seen shouting anti national slogan were doctored, student leader said that he has faith in India constitution and Judiciary.

“Court will decide on sedition charges. I will give befitting reply through the Constitution and the Constitution is not a video which can be doctored,” added the JNUSU president.

“We strongly condemn what happened on February 9. It’s for court to decide if that was ‘raaj droh’ or not. But I urge the government not to use serious charge of sedition to ruin future of student,” Mr Kumar said, adding he is “a resident of India and not a terrorist.”