2019 poll a battle between truth & falsehood: Kanhaiya

In an otherwise colourless and listless election in Bihar, if someone has generated excitement, it’s Kanhaiya Kumar, the former JNU students’ union leader. Contesting as CPI candidate from Begusarai against BJP’s Giriraj Singh, he took out time from his hectic schedule to speak to Abhay Kumar of Deccan Herald.

Excerpts:

You have been constantly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the last five years. But the BJP alleges that since you have been slapped with sedition charge, you have no right to slam Modi….

(interrupts)…If I am a criminal and have done something wrong, then I should be put behind bars. Why give me police protection?…..there is a rule of law…. All these charges of sedition are baseless allegations aimed at diverting attention from real issues. The fact that I am contesting elections provides the clearest evidence that charges against me were bogus.

Born in a humble family, where your mother is an aanganwadi sevika and your late father was a farmer, how do you manage poll expenses, that too when your rivals are so cash-rich?

We have collected Rs 70 lakhs through crowd-funding. People across the country wanted to donate more. But this is the limit as stipulated by the EC. And so far as human resources are concerned, volunteers have come to Begusarai from across the country. Right from students to intellectuals to Bollywood celebrities like Shabana Azmi and Swara Bhaskar, all have thrown their weight behind me.

ALSO READ: Battle of Begusarai between beta vs neta

Will Shabana Azmi campaign for you?

Yes. She will be here on April 25, two days before the campaigning ends on April 27. Swara Bhaskar has already canvassed for me.

Who is your main rival? BJP’s Giriraj Singh? Or RJD’s Tanveer Hasan? Given the fact that you were not included in the Mahagatbandhan….

(interrupts)… 'Yeh sach aur jhoot ki ladai hai' (It’s a battle between truth and falsehood). The PM says he works overtime (claims to work for 20 hours)… but in the process, he has destroyed all the institutions. There is deep anger among youths who are educated but advised to sell pakodas.

How hopeful you are about your victory?

I believe in destiny, hard work and honesty. Born in Begusarai, I never thought someday I will study in JNU or someday I will become JNU students’ union president or someday I will contest Lok Sabha elections. ‘Loksahi mein Janata maalik hai’. (In a democracy, it’s voters who are supreme).