Khalid, Anirban reach JNU campus to warm welcome

JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who were on Friday granted six months interim bail in a sedition case, reached the varsity campus here late in the evening to a spirited welcome.

Hundreds of their supporters gathered near the administrative block to celebrate their release. Jawaharlal Nehru Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who was also arrested on similar charges earlier and subsequently released on bail, and vice president Shehla Rashid were among those raising slogans in their favour.

Around 250 people, including students and teachers, had earlier gathered at Ganga dhaba, close to the varsity's main gate to welcome them and then march with them in a procession towards the administration block, where an estimated 2,000 people were present in anticipation of speeches by Khalid and Bhattacharya.

JNU Teachers' Association president Ajai Patnaik was among those present.

Both Khalid and Bhattacharya were arrested last month on charges of sedition after they had surrendered to police.

Both had sought bail on the ground of "parity ", saying that Kanhaiya Kumar, who was also arrested on the same charge, was already granted interim bail by the Delhi High Court.

Delhi Police had opposed the bail plea saying their case was different from that of Kanhaiya Kumar as they were the organisers of a controversial event on the varsity campus on February 9 where anti-national slogans were raised.