A day after Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar was given a rousing reception in Bihar, he was shown black flags on Sunday at a meeting organised by the All India Students Federation (AISF) and All India Youth Federation (AIYF) at Patna.
A scuffle broke out between Mr. Kumar’s supporters and two youths, who waved black flags as the JNUSU president spoke. The slogan-shouting youths, identified as Nitish Kumar of Sitamarhi and Manikant Mani of Samastipur districts, who claimed to be members of the little-known ‘Youth Swaraj’, were roughed up by the AISF and AIYF members and later detained by the police.
“They want to disturb my programme as they are not comfortable with my questions,” said Mr. Kumar.
In his speech with stretched for over an hour, Mr. Kumar again criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and referred to him as “Jumlebaaz Pradhan Mantri (A PM of rhetoric).”
“The PM has not fulfilled any of his promises…he became PM with the support of the capitalists,” Mr. Kumar alleged. Wearing a T-shirt with a photograph of Rohith Vemula, the University of Hyderabad scholar who committed suicide earlier this year, Mr Kumar appealed to people to stop voting for those who come in helicopters provided by capitalists like the Ambanis and Adanis.
Alleging that only capitalists get loans from banks, Mr. Kumar further said “They do not repay loans; instead, they fly to London overnight… Vijay Mallya did not flee the country but he was let go by the government,” charged the JNUSU president amid loud cheers from the audience. “Jiski jitni aabadi, utani uski hissedari (a share proportionate to population] Mr. Kumar demanded, apparently calling for proportional representation.
Equality of education
Calling for equality of education and employment, Mr. Kumar appealed to all political parties to unite against fascist forces. “The disciples of Golwalker and the soldiers of RSS survive and thrive only by creating a wedge between us…no fight or struggle can be waged by an individual but it requires collective participation,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the BJP targeted the JNUSU president after a picture of him sitting with a member of the liquor mafia went viral on a local TV news channel and social media.
“This photograph is proof of who is funding Kanhaiya Kumar’s grand welcome in Bihar,” charged senior State BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav. Sources told The Hindu that members of the liquor mafia were present even during a closed door meeting of Mr. Kumar with RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Saturday evening. Speaking to journalists after his arrival at Patna on Saturday, Mr Kumar had opposed total prohibition in the State.
