Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar joined the ongoing student protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Friday. Calling the movement a “historic” moment, he said he wanted to stand with the students and become part of what he described as an important chapter in public life.
Speaking to reporters, Aiyar said he believed the protest had created a significant moment and expressed happiness that talks were taking place between the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) delegation and the government. He said he hoped the discussions would produce a positive outcome. However, he added that if no solution emerged through dialogue, the protest would continue.
Says students are teaching courage
Aiyar said he had come to the protest not to lead but to learn from the students. According to him, the young protesters were showing people how to stand up without fear.
Later, while speaking to ANI, he said the students were teaching society to be fearless. He also admitted that he and many others had earlier been afraid to speak openly against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Mentions Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam
During his interaction with the media, Aiyar referred to jailed scholars Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. He claimed that the government had not been able to prove its case against them before the court. He also acknowledged that although he had tried to raise his voice in the past, he had hesitated because of fear.
He urged people to become fearless and said the country should not remain afraid.
Quotes Jawaharlal Nehru on fearlessness
Aiyar also referred to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru while addressing the gathering. He recalled that Nehru had written in his autobiography that Mahatma Gandhi taught people to live without fear.
According to Aiyar, the students had reminded everyone that they must stand against dictatorship with courage and determination.