Kanhaiya Kumar, the JNU student arrested for sedition, was attacked at a Delhi court. (AFP photo)
Highlights
- JNU student leader tells court he doesn't back anti-national activities
- Kanhaiya Kumar was attacked in court twice before his bail plea
- He was held for allegedly making anti-India slogans at an event in JNU
Kanhaiya Kumar, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student arrested on sedition charges, appealed for peace in a Delhi court moments after he was attacked twice by lawyers.
"I believe in the unity and integrity of India and I do not support any unconstitutional or anti-national activities," Mr Kumar, 28, said in a statement at the Pataiala House Court, where his bail plea was heard. He was sent to jail till March 2.
Mr Kumar 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; anti-India slogans were raised during that event.
On Wednesday, he was attacked twice in court. While being escorted by the police to the courtroom, he was kicked, punched and dragged by an unruly group of lawyers.
Police guard the Patiala House Courts complex (AP photo)
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.
In court, Mr Kumar said: "On the 9th February 2016, 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."
Mr Kumar, 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."
The lawyers who attacked the student raised slogans, threw stones at the media and also abused a group of Supreme Court-appointed lawyers who were tasked with reporting on the volatile situation at the Patiala House Court.