Nagpur: A programme organized to celebrate Birth Anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on April 14, 2016 in the city is drawing strong opposition. Kanhaiya Kumar who is the current President of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union and a leader of the All India Student Federation (AISF), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI) is slated to visit the city.
Kanhaiya Kumar who came to lime-light after he was arrested and charged with sedition by the Delhi police for allegedly raising anti-India slogans in a student rally. Kanhaiya Kumar was allegedly addressing a rally to protest the 2013 hanging of Mohammed Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri separatist convicted for the 2001 Indian Parliament attack.
Kanhaiya Kumar who has a strong inclination to Communist ideologies is going to Kerala on some Communist organizational work. On his return, he is slated to make a stopover at Nagpur and visit Deekshabhoomi on the occasion of Birth Anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on April 14, 2016.
Kanhaiya Kumar is said to participate in the meeting organized by the Pragatisheel Chatra Yuva Sangharsha Samiti (Progressive Students Youth Action Committee) at Dhanwate Hall. Though this programme was decided long time ago, two days prior to the meeting itself strong opposition to this meeting has started. The organizations who are opposing this meeting include Bajrang Dal, Yuva Sanghatan (youth Organizations), Organizations involved in Social Work with Nationalist ideologies and Women’s Organizations.
City Chief of Bajrang Dal Rajkumar Gupta has vehemently opposed this meeting and has allegedly threatened saying Kanhaiya is a traitor and that Bajrang Dal will never allow this meeting to take place in the city. Another chief of Youth Organization (Yuva Sanghatan) Parshu Thakur while addressing a press meet opposed the meeting and claimed that the result of this meeting with Kanhaiya addressing it will cause youth to get confused and chaos to occur in the city. He had demanded the cancellation of this meeting.
According to Yuva Sanghatan, though Kanhaiya talks of Indian Constitution, his behaviour is anti-constitution and democracy. They went on to allege that Kanhaiya Kumar publicly opposes the punishment awarded to Kashmiri separatist Mohammed Afzal Guru and celebrates the anniversary of his hanging. The Yuva Sanghatan added that anyone who opposes the punishment awarded by the courts for acts of traitor based on Indian Constitution is also a traitor.
However, Yuva Sanghatan claimed that they will oppose the meeting in democratic manner and will strive to get the meeting cancelled.
Some Women’s organizations too have opposed the meeting slated to be addressed by Kanhaiya Kumar. They alleged that whatever Kanhaiya Kumar has done has only spread crime and an atmosphere of chaos in the society. They also alleged that some unscrupulous organizations have made a common man a hero of a person who has attempted the break the fabric of united Indians. They claimed that Nagpur is a peaceful city and organizing this meeting will only disturb the peace of the city. They too claimed that they will also oppose the meeting in a democratic manner.
On the other hand the office-bearers of Pragatisheel Chatra Yuva Sangharsha Samiti who are organizing this meeting claimed that some organizations are unnecessarily making a big hullabaloo and are protesting against this meeting slated to be addressed by Kanhaiya Kumar. One of the main organizers Comrade Shyam Kale claimed that Kanhaiya Kumar has deep faith in Indian Constitution and adheres to the Indian Constitution. He claimed that Kanhaiya Kumar has not done anything wrong. Some members of the opposition are unnecessarily targeting Kanhaiya Kumar. Since the case is still sub judice, it will be improper to make any statement on the case. He went on to add that Kanhaiya Kumar is most talked about youth in these days and people want to listen to him so this programme has been organized.
During the programme, Kanhaiya Kumar will be expressing his opinion on topics like Indian Constitution, present political scenario and other students’ related problems. A few people and organizations with Sangh ideologies are purposefully opposing the programme, while there are many organizations that are actively supporting this programme.
Youth Congress, Nationalist Youth Congress, NSUI, Student Wing of RPI and many other organizations are actively working to make this programme a grand success.
According to Salil Deshmukh of Nationalist Youth Congress, BJP and RSS has tutored and making a few people to oppose Kanhaiya Kumar. He also threatened that if Bajrang Dal creates any impediment to this programme, they will not take things lying down. They will give a fitting response or reaction to the opponent in the same spirit.
Before even Kanhaiya Kumar reaches Nagpur, the pro and against organizations have already started reacting. Once will have to wait and watch the scenario on day of the programme on April 14, 2016.
