BJP govt following divisive agenda: Kanhaiya Kumar

Student leader and former president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union, Kanhaiya Kumar said that communalism and corruption are intertwined in the BJP rule as it survives by diverting people’s attention from real issues. He was speaking at a press meet here on Tuesday.

Answering a question on the biggest threat faced by the nation, Kanhaiya said that corruption and communalism are interconnected in our country. “Capitalism and Brahminical ideology are two biggest threats faced by the country. But both the cards are being played in our country at the same time, so that the inequality in the society is maintained. It is a deliberate attempt to steer away people's attention from the 'corporate loot',” the AISF leader said.

The neo-communalism introduced by the BJP is only to perpetrate “neo-liberal loot” by a few corporate houses close to the government. “If we have to fight, we must unite. We have made strides in bringing the Blue (Bahujan) and Red (left) together and we have found success in a few places. I can’t say now whether this would result in electoral unity, but an initiative has been made,” he said. He said that communal forces can only be fought by forging alliances and drafting common minimum programmes everywhere.

Kanahaiya said that a decision on his candidature for the Lok Sabha from Bihar’s Begusarai on CPI ticket has not been taken by the party, yet. He, however, said that he has no objection to seek support of grand alliance partners the RJD, the Congress, the NCP and Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM(S). “One might ask why would I join with the Congress, but this is democracy, and I believe in fighting the enemy at the gates,” he said. He added that he would certainly demand the partners to include the issue of fighting corruption in the common minimum programme.

Pointing out the cases slapped on him, including sedition, Kanhaiya said that the police have failed to file a charge sheet even after one and half year of arresting him. “The reported programme organised by JNU students was the responsibility of the Dean of student affairs, not mine. It is like arresting the village head for a theft that occurred in a village,” he said. The government just wanted a reason to enter the JNU and turn it into a "punching bag," he added.