Release Kanhaiya, our Bihar boy: Shatrughan Sinha on JNU row

Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Shatrughan Sinha, who has often taken a position at variance with the party's stand, on Wednesday came out in support of arrested JNU student union leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who is facing sedition charges, and called for his release soon.

"Hope wish and pray that he's released soon, sooner the better...," the actor-turned-politician said, adding Kumar has said nothing anti-national, contradicting his party’s  stand on the issue.

"Have heard transcript of speech of Kanhaiya, our Bihar boy president of JNUSU. He has said nothing anti-national or against Constitution," wrote Sinha on Twitter, the platform which he uses frequently to launch attacks against his party.

Kumar is facing sedition charges for allegedly shouting anti-national slogans during an event organised at JNU campus last week to protest the hanging of Parliament attack  convict Afzal Guru on his third death anniversary.

As the Jawaharlal Nehru University row escalated, Sinha also countered the claim by some BJP leaders that the prestigious varsity has become the hub of anti-national activities.

"It (JNU) is a seat of learning for some of India's brightest young minds & also some very respectable teachers. Save it from further embarrassment," Sinha said.

Sinha also said that any accusations in the JNU controversy needed to be substantiated with hard facts.

"If students, teachers or politicians make accusations, they need to be prepared to substantiate them with hard facts that they can stand by," he said in another tweet.     

"The JNU is going through a crisis for reasons best known to politicians. It is an institution of international repute, enviable record &history," he added.

Image:  Students take out a protest rally, condemning the arrest of JNUSU leader Kanhaiya Kumar in Kolkata. Photograph: PTI