PATNA: Former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, who joined the Congress recently, tells TOI’s Sheezan Nezami in an interview that amid “politics of division”, real issues are not being discussed in the country. Excerpts:
From communist background to a Congressman, tell us about political journey so far? Will you be able to adjust yourself in the new environment?
There is nothing to adjust. I will continue to fight on the same agendas which I had been fighting. I will continue to raise my voice against communalism and division on the basis of caste and religion. Politics has deviated from the agenda of unity in the country.
You could have continued to fight on the above-mentioned issues even by remaining in the Left. Why Congress?
Congress is the biggest party of the country county. It is the party which fought for the independence of our country and only this party can now protect that independence.
Didn’t you realise all these things about Congress while you were in JNU?
Campus politics is altogether a different subject. We go there to study. In real life, we unlearn many things that we learn in the educational institutions.
You have come to campaign for the byelection. Against whom will you campaign – JD(U) or RJD?
I will be campaigning on issues such as unemployment and migration. People of Bihar have been migrating to other states for job, treatment and education. Even for a honeymoon, people go outside Bihar. What has been done in the state which had such a glorious history? This is the land of Chanakya. It was Dashrath Manjhi who carved a path deep through a ridge of hills using only a hammer and a chisel. We also have different capabilities, but are abused outside Bihar. We are even hit by bullets nowadays. See what is happening to migrant workers from Bihar in Jammu & Kashmir.
It is being said that Congress is projecting you as an alternative to Tejashwi.
It is not like that. Tejashwi’s parents were chief ministers and I cannot be in the race with him. Even in the 2019 Lok Sabha election when I was fighting against RJD and JD(U), I did not speak against any person. This question is like ‘hasua ke byah me khurpi ke geet’. Let’s talk about real issues.
What do you think of Nitish Kumar’s government?
What Nitish Kumar did is visible, but few will not appreciate it. Look where Bihar stands in 30 years. After the 90s, everyone came together to demolish Congress. Why is Bihar lagging in the development index? I will repeat why people have to move to other states for everything?
Can we expect Kanhaiya to play a bigger role in Bihar Congress in future?
We believe in teamwork. I see Congress as a family and we all are its members.
