BJP MLA lying, I was beaten up for 15 minutes: Ameeque Jamei

New Delhi: CPI leader Ameeque Jamei was the man seen on camera being beaten up by by Delhi's BJP MLA OP Sharma and supporters in front of the Patiala House Court on Monday.

Sharma's explanation then was that Jamie was shouting, anti-India slogans and that when the MLA went to stop him he was attacked.

Two days after the incident Jamie spoke to CNN-IBN rubbishing the allegations. He said the MLA was lying and all that he had done was shout slogans against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

He said the MLA and his supporters assaulted him for 15 minutes and that all the while Delhi Police, including senior officers, did nothing.

Here is the complete text of the interview:

CNN-IBN You had gone to the court that day? Why were you there? You were beaten up. What happened?

Ameeque Jamei: See, in struggles like the one for Rohit Vemula, I am not scared of being beaten up or shot at. The second thing is, all our comrades, professors and many other people had gone for the hearing of our leader comrade Kanhaiya as we had heard that he could be attacked and that is what exactly hapened. If he had come, that is what would have happened.

CNN-IBN How did you get information that there could be an attack on Kanhaiya?

Ameeque Jamei: From social sites. In the legal cell of the BJP, there is someone called Vikram Chauhan who is an office bearer. His messages were doing the rounds. You will get those messages on social networking in which it was written that they will kill those who are anti-nationals, will take revenge on them - this is why we had all gathered at gate number 4 around 2 pm. We had gone to ensure that no untoward incident occurs. Before this Congress leader Anand Sharma was attacked with a blade. So we were very apprehensive and therefore we were present inside the court. First, there was a crowd of 10 journalists which was being led by Vikram Chauhan. Vikram Chauhan announced from the stairs, 'JNU ke kutton, JNU ke Pakistanion, ek-ek ko dhundo, jo log ho woh nikal jao'. With women, particularly female reporters they were using such foul language that I can't even narrate to my male friends.

CNN-IBN You were talking about Vikram Chauhan that he took the lead and he said all this?

Ameeque Jamie: Yes. Vikram Chauhan took the lead. Some journalists told Chauhan that you are wearing a black coat, you are a lawyer, you are educated when Kanhaiya is presented, you can place your arguments in the court and if he is an anti-national, it will be proven and the law will punish him. To that, they replied, 'kanoon ki aisi ki taisi', 'desh ke khilaf jo karega, to yeh Pakistani ka faisla aaj hum yehin karenge'. There were three journalists and they were beaten up badly. There was one Amit whose clothes were torn, 'tum communist kutte ho, unke followers ho'

CNN-IBN Did you witness all this? Did this happen in front of your eyes?

Ameeque Jamei: Yes. This happened before my eyes. There were policemen there but they were just watching. I have been in many struggles, I recognise them all, so I told the policemen to intervene and stop what was happening. In the capital of the country, inside the court premises, when Modiji is taking India to the world -- there were 3 police officers of ASI rank who tried to stop them. Now, let me tell you that these three officers were slapped. They had three stars on their uniform. They were injured and then, they retreated.

CNN-IBN So you are telling us that three Delhi police officers tried to intervene?

Ameeque Jamei: Yes, they tried but they were beaten up by the same gang of lawyers. And then the police officers retreated. Shri Arun Jaitleyji had already come inside the court, he was sitting in a room that was close by and Nalin Kohli was also with him and all this was also happening, when I saw that journalists were being targeted.

CNN-IBN Were Arun Jaitley and Nalin Kohli present in the court when all this was happening?

Ameeque Jamei: 'Yeh jab jaise shuru hua hai, jab woh aaye hain, tabhi shuru hua... This was happening just ten feet away from where they were sitting. When I saw the anarchy and goondagiri that was happening , I went to Gate number 2 where all the media vans, the CRPF and Delhi Police were standing. There were 2-4 DCP level officers. Then I told them, why are you standing here? Can't you see what is happening inside. A lot of people have been beaten up, Ayesha Kidwai has been harassed, professors are being beaten up, journalists are being beaten up. I couldn;t believe it when the DCP saab looked at me and started smiling. When I told him that Delhi Police people with three stars in their uniforms have been beaten up, DCP saab was still smiling actually. So when Shri Arun Jaitley ji came out of the Court, my anger was due to the fact that all this has happened even though Arun Jaitley was present. I felt, Jaitley must answer and condemn the violence before leaving. Then I started sloganeering and all this was live (on some channels)... I said, 'Shri Arun Jaitley ji, by arresting Kanhaiya, you cannot suppress the issue of Rohith Vemula', 'Arun ji, you have to answer for the attacks that have happened inside on comrades, on journalists'. I was shouting these slogans, and then Shri Arun Jaitley's former OSD and now BJP MLA OP Sharma along with eight to ten people aggressively came upon me and I took a few steps back. When I took a few steps back, they ran after me and threw me on the road and for nearly ten to fifteen minutes, beat me up badly. Then, when they were content after beating me, a jawan of Delhi police took me from them, put me in a van and took me to Tughlaq lane thana.

CNN-IBN When they were beating you up, were Delhi police personnel near you, were they watching you?

Ameeque Jamei: When I told the DCP level officer that three ASI level jawans have been beaten up, journalists have been beaten up, comrades were being beaten up, he was smiling. I have already told you that. I salute the young constable who did his duty, such officers owe allegiance to the Constitution not to the Jhandenwallah.

At around 9 pm in the night, I filed a complaint taking OP Sharma's name in Tughlaq lane police station. Bassi saab claims, he has done nothing, Ameeque has no injuries. It is very shameful that it does not matter to Bassi Saab that I was beaten up, three Delhi Police personnel were beaten up. I want a through investigation into this and it is my allegation whether Shri Arun Jaitley's former OSD OP Sharma ji is not trying to create a public consciousness? It is my allegation this entire episode was enacted at the behest of Shri Arun Jaitley through OP Sharma. OP Sharma ji has been saying on TV through the whole of last night that he will shoot me... I want to say that if something happens to me, the responsibility will be that of Delhi police.

CNN-IBN Do these threats scare you that you could be killed?

Ameeque Jamei: I have been built by young people. In many impoverished areas of Delhi, I am the leader of the poor. I am their voice, not the voice of the rich. I have no fear in doing the right work. Given the manner in which Comrade Govind Pansare was killed, the manner in which MM Kalburgi was killed, it is evident that I feel scared sometimes but I have faith in the law and Constitution of our country. I am proud of my country.

CNN-IBN OP Sharma has alleged that you were raising anti-national slogans and he beat you up as he cannot bear such anti-national slogans. You are saying that you were raising slogans against Arun Jaitley and not against the country?

Ameeque Jamei: I am saying exactly that. And this has been recorded live. And OP Sharmaji has been Arun Jaitley's OSD and despite that he is telling such a big lie! He has taken oath under the Constitution, he is an MLA. Before this, he has abused AAP MLA Alka Lamba- everyone knows this. The kind of people who have worked for Mr Jaitley is also a reflection on him. he allegation regarding Pakistan that he has levelled against me, I do not even want to answer because in the freedom struggle, his party and people of his party have a history of betraying the freedom movement.