Give us fellowships, take blame for Vemula's death, Kanhaiya Kumar tells Smriti Irani

Addressing a crowd of 2,500, JNUSU president made these demands after being released on bail in the sedition case

Over 2,500 students and teachers gathered at the admin block of Jawaharlal Nehru University on Thursday to welcome JNU Students Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar.

Kanhaiya, who has been accused of sedition, was granted a six-month interim bail by the Delhi High Court on Wednesday.

While addressing the gathering, Kanhaiya demanded that HRD minister Smriti Irani should grant their fellowships and make honest efforts to apprehend those who are responsible for 26-year-old Rohith Vemula's death.

A Dalit research scholar at University of Hyderabad Rohith Vemula committed suicide on January 19.

"Smriti Irani ji, we are not your children, we are JNUites. Please stop these sedition charges, gives us our fellowships and take moral responsibility for Rohith's death and apprehend those who are responsible for his demise," Kanhaiya said while addressing the mass gathering.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kanhaiya said, “Modi ji, when you talk about Stalin and Khrushchev, please talk about Hitler and Mussolini also."

Showing mass solidarity, students erupted on joy with constant whistling, cheering and clapping.

"PM Modi tweeted and said Satyamev Jayate. I want to convey this to him that I also say the same thing," Kanhaiya said.

On the controversy of sloganeering, Kanhaiya said, "We are not asking for freedom from India but freedom in India."