JNU students welcome interim bail to Kanhaiya

Students of Jawaharlal Nehru University erupted in joy on Wednesday at Parliament Street, soon after Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was granted six-month interim bail by the Delhi High Court.

"JNUSU welcomes the interim bail granted to Kanhaiya. We hope he will be back on the campus by tomorrow (Thursday) and will address the students," JNUSU vice president Shehla Rashid said.

Over a 1,000 students marched from the Mandi House to Parliament Street, demanding the release of Kanhaiya Kumar earlier in the day.

Various students group such as All India Students Union, All India Students Federation, Students Federation of India, Krantikari Yuva Sangathan, National Students Union of India, Democratic Students Federation and Campus Front of India participated in the march.

Later in the evening, JNUSU general secretary Rama Naga, one of the six accused in the case, addressed students in front of the administration block on the campus.

Welcoming the high court's verdict on Kanhaiya, Naga said, "This verdict is a slap on the face of the Bharatiya Janata Party. A conspiracy was hatched so that Kanhaiya could languish in jail. This verdict is a fight against the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh."

Naga also alleged that his family members were threatened by members of the BJP and RSS.

"The RSS and BJP activists went to my father and threatened him after the incident. They asked my father if I was studying in the JNU or indulging in anti-national activities," he said.

Slogans against JNUSU joint secretary Saurabh Sharma were also raised by students. Sharma, an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad member in the JNU, earlier issued a statement that the verdict is not a victory for the left.

"The information that we have received from the media shows that the fact that Kanhaiya has been issued an interim bail against a bond of Rs.10,000 does not mean that he is proved innocent.

"The case is still going on and he has also been instructed by the judiciary to cooperate with the police in the investigation. We have full faith in our judiciary and our constitution. This is not a victory for the left but it is a normal legal procedure," his statement read.

Kanhaiya is expected to return to the JNU campus on Thursday.