Ruling out campaigning for the Left in the upcoming elections to West Bengal and Kerala Assemblies, Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar has said that he was focused on promoting students activism and completing his research project.
On the second day of his visit to Hyderabad to extend support to the stir on University of Hyderabad campus, Mr. Kanhaiya Kumar told during a press conference that he had no hatred or political agenda against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was only demanding honour and respect for all nationalities on university campuses which had come under increasing attacks under the present regime headed by Mr. Modi.
He recalled that when fascism emerged in Germany under Hitler's rule, the prime target of the rulers was the organised sector. The most organised sector in the present days were the university campuses as they contributed in a large manner to the right to expression which was the core of democracy. The attacks on Constitution, democracy and universities should be seen in a sequence. "All pillars of democracy, including the Fourth Estate had come under attack".
Mr. Kanhaiya Kumar blamed the Modi government for the attacks as it aimed to cover up failures owing to development agenda taking the back seat in the last two years. The claim about bringing back Rs.15 lakh crore of black money to the country was given up by the government. Instead, the slogan of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya gained ground. In these circumstances, the university campuses were perceived as a threat to government because they were breeding centres for intellectuality and criticality.
He defended the praise that he showered on Rohith Vemula's mother recently saying she was equally placed as Bhagath Singh's mother and said the comparision was made in the context of the martyrdom by their children. Bhagath Singh and Rohit Vemula died in the struggle of pursuing their respective ideologies.
He condemned the violence on UoH campus two days ago in the wake of the return of the Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao and said it was triggered by people who were already deployed in the VC's office. But, the blame was shifted on teachers and students.
