New Delhi, Mar 4 (NDTV): Kanhaiya Kumar, released from jail last evening, "is getting free publicity and is enjoying it", said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, advising the JNU student to focus on academics instead.
"They are all studying at a central university, where public money, people's money is involved, so they must do justice to the cause and they must study, that's all," the minister and senior BJP leader said.
"Why are they getting into politics? If they are interested in politics, they can leave studies and join politics. Simple. Join your favourite party," Mr Naidu said, also pointing out that Kanhaiya Kumar's "favourite party is not even in single digit in Parliament."
Mr Kumar is the president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union as a member of a student's body affiliated to the Left party CPI. Two hours after he was released from Tihar jail on Thursday evening, the student leader attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP in a fiery speech at his university, surrounded by cheering supporters.
"I come from a village. Where there are magic shows. People show magic and sell rings that fulfill all wishes... We have some people like that in our country, who say black money will come back, sabka saath sabka vikas (development for all)," Mr Kumar said in a dig at PM Modi's election promises.
Mr Kumar said he has "serious political differences with Mr Modi but will agree with his tweet in which he said Satyamev Jayate (truth will win)." The Prime Minister' had tweeted in praise of Education Minister Smriti Irani's speech in defence of the decision to charge Kanhaiya Kumar and other JNU students with sedition.
The student also attacked Ms Irani, saying, "My child, my child she says- for the first time I saw her acting. Is it Lok Sabha TV or Star Plus," a reference to the minister's career as a television actor.
Kanaihya Kumar was arrested on February 12 on charges of sedition and spent 21 days in prison before being granted bail by a Delhi court on Wednesday.