Ram Vilas Paswan shows sympathy for ‘Bihar son’ Kanhaiya Kumar

PATNA/ NEW DELHI: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, NDA’s Dalit face who has spoken in support of the BJP on issues concerning the weaker sections, sprang a surprise when he expressed sympathy for JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar — much reviled by the saffron party for allegedly raising anti-India slogans — as a “son of Bihar”.

Expressing his sympathy with JNU student union president Kanhaiya, in jail on charges of sedition, Paswan also supported Jawaharlal Nehru University and lauded its emergence as a platform for ideological debate. However, he cautioned that activism in JNU should be within the confines of the Constitution and “Rashtriya Maryada” (National pride).

He also condemned the recent attack on journalists covering Kanhaiya’s production in court. “I have sympathy for him (Kanhaiya) as he is a son of Bihar. He is an elected president of JNU students’ union,” Paswan said at a press conference in Patna. He avoided comments on the JNUSU president’s arrest.

Paswan said he too is a product of student politics and added that JNU has produced several great personalities and its dignity must be protected.

Incidentally, Paswan had defended the NDA government on the Rohith Vemula suicide issue at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting on February 16 with floor leaders of all major parties in both Houses of Parliament.

When the Congress and Left parties raised the issue of the suicide committed by the Dalit student in Hyderabad Central University, Paswan said he too is a Dalit and asked the opposition not to politicise the issue.

On the JNU row, Paswan told reporters in Patna that he further said one does commit treason by merely attending meetings, but raising anti-India slogans can be a matter of probe. He also mentioned all demonstration should be within the ambit of constitution.

Later he tweeted: “JNU is a prestigious institute. It has produced great minds for the country. Its dignity must be protected. Ideological debate among students is indispensable in educational institutions, but it should be within the confines of the Constitution and national dignity”.