JNU row: Family members of Kanhaiya seek PM's intervention

 Family members of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, who is facing a sedition case, today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "break silence" over the row, saying "a lot was expected" from him.

Expressing concern over the attack on Kanhaiya at Patiala House Courts, roles played by a section of lawyers, media and Delhi Police in the matter, they said the JNUSU president "will come out clean".

Terming the whole incident as "just like a film", they exuded confidence that Kanhaiya will emerge as "a hero" as it is in his "DNA" to be a nationalist.

"Today we have read in a newspaper that the Prime Minister was not happy with the developments at JNU. He has not said anything on the issue so far.

"He (Modi) too comes from a poor family, like we do. He should break his silence, a lot is expected from him," Kanhaiya's elder brother Manikant Singh said.

Manikant, who is in the national capital along with his uncle Rajendra Singh, cousin Prashant Kumar and other relatives hoping to meet Kanhaiya, said the lawyers' attack on his brother last Monday had left his family "worried" and urged authorities to ensure his safety when the future hearings take place.

The relatives also questioned the role of Delhi Police, including Commissioner B S Bassi, and accused them of being "mute spectators" when the students' leader was being attacked on the court premises.

"There was this media trial too by a section of it. Concocted videos were aired by some news channels depicting Kanhaiya as an anti-nationalist. This defamed him initially. This left people in our village perplexed. But they are now supporting us as the footage turned out to be fake," he added.

"This whole episode is like a film wherein a villain enters the scene, does something wrong and then gets beaten. We are sure Kanhaiya will emerge as a hero. He already is, and we are proud of him," he added.

Rajendra seconded Manikant, saying "fascist" forces will be "defeated".
Manikant added the family members will try to meet Kanhaiya tomorrow.

"I have not spoken to him for a month now. I had sent a message to him on WhatsApp some days ago when he was at Hyderabad Central University after Rohith Vemula died. We all are eager to meet him," he added.

The family members are currently staying at Ajoy Bhawan, the head office of CPI. Kanhaiya is a member of the party's students' wing All India Students' Federation (AISF).