 "JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar addresses the crowd at the university's campus in New Delhi. Photo: All India Radio Twitter Handle")
Taking a jibe at the BJP over an editorial published in the Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamna, the Congress party on Monday called Kanhaiya Kumar a 'hero' and said that his guts have rattled the ruling dispensation.
The editorial published in Saamna criticised the NDA government's handling of the JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) row and cautioned it over the free publicity being given to Kanhaiya, who is presently out on an interim bail following charges of sedition.
Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said his party respected the endeavours of the JNU students' union president, who has raised his voice against all the odds.
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"What is Saamna's thinking is not our query, but he is a voice that has risen among the university students and is being heard across the country and we respect him for that," Vadakkan said. "It is history to decide whether it was the HRD Minister, Home Minister or the Delhi Police that suppressed him maximum, but a hero has been born and that has rattled this government," he added.
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The editorial said Kanhaiya, who came to light after the anti-national sloganeering in the JNU, is blabbering like politicians.
"In JNU, the death anniversary of Afzal Guru was celebrated. Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested for allegedly raising anti-India slogans during this event and was also charged with sedition (which he says is against government not against India), but now Kanhaiya is out on bail and is acting as poisonous cobra who with his expanded hood is threatening the BJP and others," he added.
The editorial further said that Kanhaiya has been charged with sedition and despite that he got a rousing welcome in the JNU.
"In his speech, Kanhaiya went on to say many things in a simple language. It is obvious that those in power would be irked by his speech because after Anna Hazare and Kejriwal the 'media' has made him a hero," the editorial added.
Quoting Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu for his 'free publicity' remark on Kanhaiya, the editorial asked as to who was responsible for this free publicity.
"Nothing comes for free in our country because even the provident funds are being taxed by the government. In short, the government has vindicated that 'nothing comes for free'. The media only serves what sells," it added.
The editorial also cited that the government should take a serious note of the fact that Kanhaiya despite having a sedition charge against him is being portrayed as a hero.
The Sena in its mouthpiece went on to say that if the growing disappointment in the youth continue to rise then the day is not far when without Pakistan's assistance there would be 'blasts' in the country.
Criticising the whole episode, the mouthpiece said, "If people like Kanhaiya are made heroes out of one speech then those who are being martyred on the border would be termed as crazy."
