29-year-old Kumar's 66-minute speech laced with wit and sarcasm last night on his return to JNU campus after he walked free from jail three weeks after his arrest, however, did not go down well with the BJP with Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu saying he was "enjoying free publicity". Naidu also said students in universities must study rather than getting involved in politics.
"The speech given by Kanhaiya Kumar in JNU after his release from jail is very effective ... Whatever he said is true," Nitish told reporters at Patna Airport.
"Kanhaiya Kumar said we do not talk of freedom from India but freedom in India and demand independence in this regard," Nitish, who is a senior JD(U) leader, said.
"Kanhaiya Kumar put forth his views like there should be freedom from hunger, poverty and intolerance," he said and hailed the JNUSU President for putting his views effectively.
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Kanhaiya was slapped with sedition charge for allegedly raising anti-national slogans during the protest against the hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on his third death anniversary last month.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who tweeted "What a brilliant speech by Kanhaiya" as the latter was speaking last night, today said, "I told you several times Modi ji (Prime Minister), don't mess with students. Modi ji did not pay heed."
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the speech was "testimony" to the fact that JNU students are demanding the creation of a better India and that they are the "foot soldiers" protecting the secular and democratic character of the Indian republic.
Hailing Kanhaiya's speech, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said
there should be more and more "Kanhaiya Kumars" in our country "so that people could live and sleep fearlessly as he is the true nationalist and not anti-national as BJP has branded him."
"I am impressed with this student on his understanding of the issues of the nation. His speech was that of very matured person. The country needs such students who are really nationalists and are thinking about the country," he said.
Kanhaiya is a "real hero and true nationalist" and to brand him anti-national was anti-students and especially against those hailing from poor background, he added.
"He is getting free publicity and enjoying the publicity. The question is let him condemn those slogans, let him distance himself from them. Let him help the authorities curb such activities in universities.
"Universities are meant for education. They must study rather than getting involved in politics. If they are interested (in politics), then they can leave study and join politics. He can join his favourite party which does not even have single digit in Parliament," Naidu said.