Kanhaiya Kumar, under fire for remarks on 1984 anti-Sikh riots, says he was misinterpreted. Read his full post here

Jawaharlal Nehru University student union president Kanhaiya Kumar had on Monday said there was a difference between 2002 riots and 1984 Sikh massacre.

New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University student union president Kanhaiya Kumar on Wednesday attempted to water down the controversy that erupted after he said there was a difference between 2002 riots and 1984 Sikh massacre.

In a Facebook post, Kumar said he was misinterpreted. Read his post here:

I have been misinterpreted and misrepresented yet again. There isn’t an iota of doubt that Emergency represents one of... Posted by Kanhaiya Kumar on Tuesday, 29 March 2016

He wrote the post after he came under strong criticism for his remarks that 1984 anti-Sikh riot was a "mob-led massacre" while 2002 Gujarat riots were a "state-sponsored violence."

Kanhaiya's comments did not go down well even with those who have been his zealous supporters ever since he was arrested in a sedition case over an event against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

"Sorry Kanhaiya, you're badly wrong here. The 1984 Anti Sikh pogrom was just as much sponsored by state machinery," CPI(ML) Politburo member and former JNUSU president Kavita Krishnan wrote on Twitter.

Sharing a report by People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) on 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Krishnan further said, "I hope @kanhaiyajnusu and all others read Who Are The Guilty, the report that documents the meticulous planning".

Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadava, who is also an alumni, also tweeted, "Sorry to disagree again @kanhaiyajnusu Both 2002,1984 were state sanctioned Emergency was closest we came to fascism".

Speaking at an event at JNU, Kanhaiya had on Monday said that there is a difference between 2002 riots and 1984 Sikh massacre as the Gujarat violence was "carried out through state machinery while the other was caused due to mob frenzy."

He had also compared the alleged onslaught on varsities with Gujarat riots alleging both of them were carried out "with support" from state machinery even as he stressed that there is a fundamental difference between "emergency" and "fascism".