Kanhaiya Kumar attacks Smriti Irani in letter

JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, in an open letter to Union HRD minister Smriti Irani on Mother’s Day, questioned how could a “mother” punish her children based on a biased probe report and doctored videos as indefinite hungerstrike by Jawaharlal Nehru University students entered 11th day on Sunday.

Mr Kumar, referring to the JNU investigation report of the controversial February 9 event attacked Ms Irani who had earlier referred to all students as her children, wrote in the letter, “We are trying hard to study in the warmth of your motherly love. Under your reign, we are learning how to study despite police canes and hunger.”

The 29-year-old Ph.D. student referred to Ms Irani as “anti-rational” mother of “anti-nationals” in his letter and extended Mother’s Day wishes to her on behalf of all students.

“Today a friend sent asked me how under (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi’s regime, where besides our own mother, we also have Mother Cow, Mother India, Mother Ganges and Mother Smriti, how could Rohith Vemula die I am asking you this because I have no answer. The same anti-national friend also said that Mother Smriti’s ministry sent several letters to punish Rohith and was also responsible for withholding his fellowship for seven months,” Mr Kumar wrote.

“In a great country like India, can a mother drive her child to suicide Can a mother accept punishments on her children based on doctored videos and a biased probe Your children, starving for 11 days, are asking you this question. Please reply, if you find the time. The friend also called you an ‘anti-rational mother of anti-nationals.’ I hope you will prove this allegation false in your factual reply,” he added.

Meanwhile, JNUSU joint secretary Saurabh Sharma of the ABVP started a donation campaign to pay his penalty of Rs 10,000.

“I have been penalised for protecting ‘Bharat Mata’ and standing up against the anti-nationals. So on Mother’s Day, we have started a campaign in support of protecting the dignity of Mother India. I am requesting people to donate only Rs 1 either through Paytm account or directly to my SBI account. Till now I have received Rs 1,100,” Mr Sharma said in a statement.

To mark the Mother’s Day, various mothers residing on JNU campus and outsiders, including an 80-year-old wheelchair-bound woman, joined the fasting students for one-day hungerstrike.