“I believe in the unity and integrity of India and I do not support any unconstitutional or anti-national activities,” Kanhaiya, 28, said in a statement shortly before he was produced at Delhi’s Patiala House court where his bail plea was heard.
Kanhaiya was arrested on Friday for allegedly making anti-national remarks during an event at JNU on February 9 to mark the anniversary of the 2013 hanging of terrorist Afzal Guru.
On Wednesday, he was attacked twice in the court. While being escorted by the police to the courtroom, he was kicked, punched and dragged by an unruly group of lawyers. He was attacked again by a man while he was waiting in a room for his bail hearing. He identified the man before the judge but the attacker allegedly walked out without being stopped.
Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi shared the picture of Kanhaiya’s appeal on Twitter in which the JNUSU leader denounced the ‘anti-national’ sloganeering and expressed full faith in the Indian Constitution.
“I have said earlier too. I am an Indian. I have full faith in the Constitution as well as the judiciary of the country,” Kanhaiya told metropolitan magistrate Lovleen when he was produced for remand proceedings.
“The media trial against me is painful. If there is evidence against me that I am a traitor, then you please send me to jail. But if there no evidence against me, there should be no media trial,” he said in a statement at the start of the proceedings.
“On February 9, there was an unfortunate incident which occurred at my prestigious university and I condemn it. After watching videos obtained from different sources, I have found out that in JNU, some JNU people and some others were raising anti-national slogans. I do not support those anti-national slogans and I would like to appeal to you that in matters like these, the country, our society and universities should not disturb the peace,” the letter reads.
Kanhaiya, who is completing his doctorate at JNU, said he believed in the Constitution and “my dream is to implement the preamble as per the Constitution and will put in my full effort in doing so.”
Reacting to the statement, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said if Kanhaiya applies for bail, then police will not object to it.
“I personally feel, a young person... perhaps be given bail,” he told reporters.