I am an Indian, have full faith in constitution: Kanhaiya

Slapped with sedition charges, Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Wednesday said that he is an Indian who has full faith in judiciary and the Constitution, a statement the police latched on to say that it will not oppose his bail.

"I have said earlier too. I am an Indian. I have full faith in the Constitution as well as the judiciary of the country," Kumar 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.

Kumar, who has been booked under sedition charge in connection with an event in JNU where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised last week, has been arrested by the Delhi police. He has been remanded to judicial custody till March 2.

Reacting to the statement, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said if Kumar applies for bail, then police will not object to it.

"I personally feel, a young person...perhaps be given bail," he told reporters.

Kumar told the committee of lawyers sent by the Supreme Court to asses the situation in the Patiala House court that he was treated well by the police.

"I have no complaints against the police. When I was brought to the court, a mob attacked me. Police was escorting me to the court room and they tried their best to save me from the mob. But still, I was beaten up. Even some of the police officials were assaulted," he said.

The magistrate immediately ordered medical examination of Kumar by a team of doctors in the court.

The magistrate ordered the deputy commissioner of police (security) present in the court to ensure that there is no attack on him. He also directed the superintendent of Tihar jail to ensure security of Kumar.

Photograph: PTI Photo