E-Paper
Kanhaiya Kumar met Comrades before fiery ‘Azadi’ speech in JNU
Warm hugs followed between Kumar and his All India Students Federation (AISF) comrades at a meeting of a small group of students and teachers, while thousands of sympathisers and mediapersons waited for him on the campus.
JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was cooped up in a room with his ‘comrades’ at an undisclosed location on the campus, before he took on the establishment in a fiery speech at the university’s administrative block late on Thursday night.
Warm hugs followed between Kumar and his All India Students Federation (AISF) comrades at a meeting of a small group of students and teachers, while thousands of sympathisers and mediapersons waited for him on the campus, said a student who attended it.
“He was very confident, despite all that happened. He has always been a positive person. So much has happened in the last three weeks but nothing could shatter his confidence. He was happy to meet us all. It was a brief meeting after which he addressed the students,” said Amrita, a member of AISF.
Another party member Rahila Sumbul described Kumar’s return to the campus after three weeks in jail as an emotional moment.
“It’s a political fight but last night was an emotional moment for all of us. To have our comrade back on the campus and talk to him was an emotional moment. We are all very happy that he is back and can now lead the struggle,” she told HT.
Kanhaiya, released on conditional bail in a sedition case, also spoke to his mother on his way to the campus from Tihar Jail.
“One of the professors who had gone to pick him up from the jail made him talk to his mother on phone,” said a student, who did not wish to be named.
While a group of students with drums waited outside the Kumar’s hostel Brahmputra to welcome him, sources said Kumar stayed at a teacher’s house. “We cannot disclose his location due to security reasons. He was on the campus but did not go to his hostel room,” sources said.
A close friend of Kanhaiya, who also stays in Brahmputra hostel, said, “Students in the hostel are excited to meet him. But he did not come to the hostel. I met him briefly after his speech,” he said.
