Father of absconding Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student leader Umar Khalid alleged that his son was being targeted because he was a Muslim while Kanhaiya Kumar's mother slammed the attack on her son in the Patiala House Court premises and asked who would be responsible if her son died in custody.
Umar Khalid, alleged to be the main organiser of the February 9 event in JNU where ‘anti-national’ slogans were raised, also faces sedition charge.
Syed Qasim Ilyas (62), alleged his son was the victim of trial by media and described the reports of Khalid being a terrorist as ‘wrong and mischievous’. Ilyas said arrested student leader Kanhaiya Kumar and his son were being treated differently, adding he was hurt by the government's 'divide and rule policy'.
Kumar’s mother accused the government of springing into action to arrest her son as soon as a complaint was filed against him, but failing to act against those who attacked him in the court.
"What if he had died that day and it was proved later that he was innocent? Will the government give me my son back then,?” she said.
"I am not a terrorist's mother. I know it will be proved some day but until then if my son dies in custody, who will be responsible for it? They can call Kanhaiya a threat to nation but cannot protect him from other threats?," Devi added.
Devi is an Anganwadi worker who earns Rs 3,500 per month, while her 65-year-old husband who was a farmer has been bedridden for seven years due to paralysis.
Kanhaiya was arrested Friday last in connection with a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy registered over the holding of an event at JNU against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. During the event, anti-India slogans were allegedly raised.
Kumar was attacked while he was being produced at the court, before he was remanded in judicial custody by a metropolitan court till March 2.
