Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Kanhaiya heckled during road show, CPI sees a BJP plot - Hindustan Times
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Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Kanhaiya heckled during road show, CPI sees a BJP plot

Hindustan Times, Patna | By
Apr 18, 2019 12:05 PM IST

As Kanhaiya moved in a red SUV with sunroof, sporting a red checked shirt with patch pocket and marigold garlands around his neck, a motley group of youth accosted him about his purported anti-India remark — “Bharat tere tukde-tukde honge, inshah Allah, inshah Allah (India will be divided... Inshah Allah, Inshah Allah).”

CPI candidate from Begusarai, Kanhaiya Kumar, was heckled by some villagers during his road show at Ram Deri Tola, a village dominated by Bhumihars, 5 kms away from district headquarters of Begusarai, on Tuesday evening.

CPI candidate from Begusarai Lok Sabha seat, Kanhaiya Kumar, at an election campaign rally during the ongoing general elections, in Begusarai,Bihar(Sanotsh Kumar/ HT)
CPI candidate from Begusarai Lok Sabha seat, Kanhaiya Kumar, at an election campaign rally during the ongoing general elections, in Begusarai,Bihar(Sanotsh Kumar/ HT)

As Kanhaiya moved in a red SUV with sunroof, sporting a red checked shirt with patch pocket and marigold garlands around his neck, a motley group of youth accosted him about his purported anti-India remark — “Bharat tere tukde-tukde honge, inshah Allah, inshah Allah (India will be divided... Inshah Allah, Inshah Allah).”

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Kanhaiya, then the president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU), was in the eye of the storm over the alleged controversial remark, as the government pressed sedition charges against him in 2016.

The bearded youth fired quick salvos by also asking Kanhaiya why he opposed the 10% reservation for the forward castes and not protest when the Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar had rained lathis (baton) on Bhumihars, an upper caste, supporting reservation.

Kanhaiya, clearly caught off-guard, appeared to be at a loss of words as he was heard asking the youth in local dialect, “Bhajapa ke hau (Are you a BJP supporter)?” The video, which shows Kanhaiya mumbling and gesticulating at the belligerent youth to come near his car, has now gone viral on the social media.

The CPI was quick to dismiss the protest by terming it to be a handiwork of the BJP.

“There is nothing to read into the protest. It was an isolated, one-off incident, orchestrated by three youths who were supporters of the BJP. Please don’t go by what some TV channels are airing. Kanhaiya has groundswell support wherever he goes in Begusarai. Even today, there are 5,000 to 6,000 people following him as he campaigns at Baghwara,” said SN Azad of the CPI who is coordinating Kanhaiya’s campaign from the district party headquarters.

The BJP, however, said that Kanhaiya has had to face stiff opposition wherever he went to solicit support in Begusarai for his past utterances as JNUSU president.

“Kanhaiya has an anti-national image; someone also averse to social justice. As JNUSU leader, he never supported any proposal in favour of SC, ST or the backwards. He was mired in controversy over his pro-Kashmir and pro-Pakistan slogans on the JNU campus. In Begusarai, he has had to face stiff opposition everywhere over his past utterances as JNUSU president. He will stand exposed on May 23 when the results of the 17th Lok Sabha elections are announced,” said Nikhil Anand, state spokesperson of the BJP.

Begusarai witnesses a triangular contest among central minister Giriraj Singh of the BJP, Tanveer Hassan of the RJD and Kanhaiya. It goes to polls in the fourth phase on April 29.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Ruchir writes on health, aviation, power and myriad other issues. An ex-TOI, he has worked both on Desk and in reporting. He over 25 years of broadcast and print journalism experience in Assam, Jharkhand & Bihar.

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