New Delhi: Hours after Bollywood actor Anupam Kher addressed a gathering at Jawahar Lal Nehru University over alleged 'anti-national' slogans, JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar said that it is the university's culture to encourage debates.
At a conclave, Kumar said, “Today Anupam Kherji came to JNU and shared his views on certain topics. He is one of my favorite actors. Many told me that he should be opposed. I told them that we have to show the world what is JNU. JNU always encourage debates and doesn't oppose anyone's right to speak.”
Further clarifying his stand on Kashmir issue, he said, "There is no doubt that Kashmir is an integral part of India. And since Kashmiris are Indians, we can always discuss their issues."
Kumar, who was charged with sedition, denied supporting Kashmiri militant Afzal Guru, who was hanged for his role in the terror attack on the Indian parliament, but said he opposed capital punishment.
"Our protest (on February 9) was against capital punishment, not in support of Afzal," he said, adding that even if an ABVP activist was given capital punishment, he would oppose it.
Kher, who was in JNU to screen his film 'Buddha Stuck In A Traffic Jam', said that someone who talks against the country cannot be a hero.
He said those who wanted ‘azadi’ from hunger, poverty and social disparity themselves did nothing to eradicate them. He said it was easy to raise slogans but difficult to work for their eradication.
In a veiled attack on Kumar, Kher said, “He said that many like him come from poor families. But, what have they done for their families.”
