NEW DELHI: In an exclusive conversation with NDTV’s Barkha Dutt, JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who was arrested on charges of sedition for alleged ‘anti-national’ comments, says he has faith in the country and does not want ‘Azaadi’ from India. Below are the highlights:
- I am not a star, I am just a representative of JNU students.
- I want to thank all the people who came together breaking their ideological boundaries
- They didn’t stand up for Kanhaiya Kumar or JNU, they stood up for democracy, justice and the ability to say what is right and what is wrong
- We have faith in this country, don’t want azaadi from India
- Did not prepare my speech, spoke from my experience
- I stated pain of society’s weaker sections in my speech
- We want freedom to say yes or no
- Mentality of those in the Sangh is divisive
- Politicians are looking at my speech from political point of view.
- In the country, some are trying to create a binary debate.
- Our brothers, my father produces food grains.
- Farmers are committing suicide.
- They are all martyrs.
- But the people who make them give up their life.
- They are trying to patent nationalism wrongly.
- System has space that the kid of an anganwadi worker can study PhD.
- Sedition is not desh droh but raj droh. The British have gone but they are using this.
- Sedition is being used as a political tool by the powers that be.
- We have the freedom of expression, we understand the restrictions of that also.
- When we talk of freedom, we are talking of using the access to our Constitution.
- Women should have freedom to choose their husbands.
- Women should be able to walk freely at night.
- I have full faith in judicial system.
- Any student who is a citizen of the country cannot be a traitor.
- If any student is doing any unlawful activity, law should take its own course.
- I don’t think the incident at JNU should have come under sedition
- I am no law expert, I am a student.
- There is a difference between nationalism and patriotism.
- Concept of nationalism came from Europe – one religion one identity
- In patriotism or desh bhakti, there is an element of multi-identity.
- India is a nation of nations, it represents multiculturalism.
- It gives us the right to respect the restriction placed by Constitution but gives us the freedom also.
- On one hand you talk of globalisation yet you use European nationalism.
- That blind nationalism gave birth to fascism in Hitler and Mussolini. We will not let anyone become that. Nationalism is not this. It becomes a tool of RSS.
- That you have to say Vande Mataram if you have to stay in India, you can’t impose it.
- We want justice for Rohith Vemula who was forced to commit suicide as government machinery was used against him.
- Autonomy of Universities should not be attacked.
- One type of ideology shouldn’t be imposed.
- Things should be done as per law and rules of procedure.
- I am a member of AISF, we fought for independence.
- People sacrificed their lives.
- The fear that our rights may be snatched gives us the power to fight.
- I was very worried when the Home Minister said something baseless. He should have thought about it.
- I am a student and son of a mother.
- The image of students, colleagues, institutions and a whole section of society.
- He should not think as a party member.
- PM does Mann ki Baat, but should do Maa ki Baat.
- Democracy is because of people. I will write to have a conversation with the people.
- I would only like to say to PM Modi, when you were young, what was your viewpoint on this country.
- Youth are now looking at the country from their point of view.
- Don’t try to finish the difference of opinion and thought in our country.
- There is a difference between nationalism and patriotism.
- Concept of nationalism came from Europe – one religion one identity
- In patriotism or desh bhakti, there is an element of multi-identity.
- India is a nation of nations, it represents multiculturalism.
- It gives us the right to respect the restriction placed by Constitution but gives us the freedom also.
- On one hand you talk of globalisation yet you use European nationalism.
- That blind nationalism gave birth to fascism in Hitler and Mussolini. We will not let anyone become that. Nationalism is not this. It becomes a tool of RSS.
- That you have to say Vande Mataram if you have to stay in India, you can’t impose it.
- We want justice for Rohith Vemula who was forced to commit suicide as government machinery was used against him.
- Autonomy of Universities should not be attacked.
- One type of ideology shouldn’t be imposed.
- Things should be done as per law and rules of procedure.
- I am a member of AISF, we fought for independence.
- People sacrificed their lives.
- The fear that our rights may be snatched gives us the power to fight.
- I was very worried when the Home Minister said something baseless. He should have thought about it.
- I am a student and son of a mother.
- The image of students, colleagues, institutions and a whole section of society.
- He should not think as a party member.
- PM does Mann ki Baat, but should do Maa ki Baat.
- Democracy is because of people. I will write to have a conversation with the people.
- I would only like to say to PM Modi, when you were young, what was your viewpoint on this country.
- Youth are now looking at the country from their point of view.
- Don’t try to finish the difference of opinion and thought in our country.
Courtesy: NDTV
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jnu-student-leader-kanhaiya-kumar-speaks-to-ndtv-highlights-1283968?pfrom=home-lateststories