Former student leader Kanhaiya Kumar today joined the Congress party. He was inducted at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi.
Kanhaiya Kumar Joins Congress ahead of polls in crucial states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, and Punjab. Posters welcoming Kanhaiya Kumar were seen outside the Congress office earlier today.
Prashant Kumar shared a video “Just the scenes of the press conference hall at the Congress HQs ahead of #KanhaiyaKumar’s joining.
It’s a packed hall!!
Just the scenes of the press conference hall at the Congress HQs ahead of #KanhaiyaKumar’s joining.
It’s a packed hall!! pic.twitter.com/b1ARh8c2wG
— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) September 28, 2021
I don’t know whether PM Modi ji is in quarantine or not after coming from USA, But my brothers #JigneshMevani & #KanhaiyaKumar joining congress Under the leadership of my leader @RahulGandhi Ji will push Modi ji to go for quarantine for some days. Congratulations Brothers ✊? pic.twitter.com/8AENL9eEhr
— Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) (@seethakkaMLA) September 28, 2021
In the presence of Shri @RahulGandhi ji, Shri #KanhaiyaKumar and Gujarat MLA Shri @jigneshmevani80 ji join @INCIndia .
Joining ceremony was held at Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Park, ITO, Delhi. pic.twitter.com/4c3jDM8TqG— Delhi Pradesh Congress Sevadal (@SevadalDL) September 28, 2021
The youth of India is united.
Long live the idea of India. pic.twitter.com/jdldvVqrJe— Congress (@INCIndia) September 28, 2021
Kanhaiya speaks:
Most important video of the day as #KanhaiyaKumar joins Congress. pic.twitter.com/OjuSfQiIMv
— Neha Chauhan (@nehajoychauhan) September 28, 2021
श्री @RahulGandhi जी शहीद-ए-आजम भगत सिंह पार्क में पहुंचे।
इस दौरान माहौल देशभक्ति के नारों से गूंज उठा। pic.twitter.com/rT4xFnZJob
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 28, 2021
I welcome youth leaders #KanhaiyaKumar & @jigneshmevani80 to @INCIndia.
Their joining to Congress will infuse fresh ideas & young blood to fight against fascist forces. pic.twitter.com/vmNWA0pjCd
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 28, 2021
Kanhaiya Kumar said at a press meet after joining Congress, “I am joining the Congress because it’s not just a party, it’s an idea. It’s the country’s oldest and most democratic party, and I am emphasizing ‘democratic’…Not just me, but many think the country can’t survive without Congress,”
He also said, “Congress party is like a big ship. If it’s saved, I believe many people’s aspirations, Mahatma Gandhi’s oneness, Bhagat Singh’s courage, and BR Ambedkar’s idea of equality will be protected, too. This is why I have joined it.”
He expressed that a particular ideology was trying to ruin India’s values, culture, history, and future. He also claimed that “crores of youngsters” feel that the country “can’t be saved without saving the Congress”.
Kanhaiya Kumar was earlier with the Communist Party of India (CPI) which he joined ahead of the 2019 general election. He then contested from his hometown Begusarai in Bihar against the BJP’s Giriraj Singh of the BJP but failed to win.
Posters welcoming him to the party were put up outside the Congress office hours ahead of his switch. He reportedly met Rahul Gandhi twice recently over two weeks. He also met Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
He was the former president of the JNU Students’ Union, ailed over alleged “anti-national slogans” raised at an event in 2016 to mark the death anniversary of Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru, but there was no evidence against him and the tapes reportedly were said to be morphed with anti-national slogans inserted within and the court released him.
At the event, Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, too, extended his support to the outfit, though he couldn’t join the party formally due to technical reasons and said “I could not join the Congress formally due to technical reasons. I am an independent MLA, if I join a party, I may not continue as an MLA…I am part of the Congress ideologically but I will fight the upcoming Gujarat polls from Congress symbol.’
“To save democracy and the idea of India, I have to be with a party that led the Independence struggle and dragged the British out of the country. This is why I am here with the Congress today.”
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal today said while welcoming Kanhaiya that his party was looking forward to working with him and Mr. Mevani to defeat “fascist forces” ruling this country.
“Kanhaiya Kumar is a symbol of the fight for freedom of expression in this country. He fought against fundamentalism as a student leader. The joining of kind of dynamic personality will fill the entire cadre of Congress with enthusiasm,” Mr Venugopal said.
