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| {{Infobox person | |||
| |name =Kanhaiya Kumar | |||
| |image = Kanhaiya Kumar.jpg | |||
| |native_name = कन्हैया कुमार | |||
| |birth_date =January, 1987 | |||
| |birth_place =], ], ] | |||
| |nationality =]n | |||
| |education =pursuing Ph.D. in ] at ] | |||
| | alma_mater = | |||
| |occupation =Student Leader | |||
| |organization =] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Kanhaiya Kumar''' is the current President of ]. He is also a leader of the ] (AISF), the student wing of the ] (CPI). | |||
| In February 2016, he was arrested and charged with ] by the Delhi police for allegedly raising anti-India slogans in a student rally. The rally was called to protest the 2013 hanging of ], a ]i separatist convicted for the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Why an Indian student has been arrested for sedition|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35576855|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=17 February 2016}}</ref> Kumar was released on interim bail on 2 March, 2016 for lack of conclusive evidence.<ref name="lesson" /><ref name="clean_hit" /> Kumar denied the charges, and upon his release, gave a speech in favour of freedom in India.<ref>Kamal Mitra Chenoy, , Daily O, 5 March 2016.</ref> In parallel, a disciplinary committee constituted by JNU Vice-Chancellor have also investigated the controversial event and submitted the report. Final decision is awaited from the JNU administration.<ref> Business Standard 11 March 2016</ref><ref>, NDTV, 7 March 2016.</ref><ref>, Indian Express, 8 March 2016.</ref> | |||
| ==Early life and political career== | |||
| Kanhaiya Kumar was born in January 1987,<ref name=":0" /> and brought up in the village Bihat (near ]) in the ], ]. The village is part of the ] legislative assembly constituency, known to be a stronghold of the Communist Party of India (CPI).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/MIETsgtMOn0zIMYjDkzFVM/Who-is-Kanhaiya-Kumar.html|title=JNU row: Who is Kanhaiya Kumar?|author=Anuja|work=livemint.com}}</ref> Kumar’s father, Jaishankar Singh, owns about an acre of farmland and currently paralysed. His mother, Meena Devi, is an ] worker. He has an elder brother, Manikant, who works as a supervisor with a company in Assam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/jnu-sedition-case-afzal-guru-event-kanhaiya-kumar/|title=JNU sedition case: Meet the family of the student who is a ‘danger to Mother India’|date=2016-02-14|website=The Indian Express|access-date=2016-03-18}}</ref> His younger brother, Prince, is preparing for the civil services exam.<ref name=":0" /> His family members have traditionally been supporters of the CPI.<ref>{{cite web|title=JNU row: How Kanhaiya Kumar became president of JNU Students' Union|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jnu-row-how-kanhaiya-kumar-became-president-of-jnu-s-students-union-2177843|publisher=Daily News and Analysis|accessdate=17 February 2016}}</ref> | |||
| Kanhaiya Kumar studied till Class VI at Madhya Vidyalaya, Masnadpur, in Bihar before joining R. K. C. High School in ], an industrial town in Bihar.<ref name=":0" /> During his school days, Kumar took part in several plays and activities organized by IPTA (]), a left-leaning cultural group going back to the days of India’s freedom struggle. He cleared his Class X board exams in 2002 with a first division.<ref name=":0" /> After school, Kanhaiya joined the Ram Ratan Singh College at Mokama, around 25 km west of Bihat, taking up science in Class XI-XII.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160305/jsp/nation/story_72972.jsp#.VuvuP85OLIU|title=Cricket brat and school debater|website=The Telegraph|access-date=2016-03-18}}</ref> Kanhaiya graduated in geography from the College of Commerce, Patna in 2007, with a first class. It was here that he began his involvement in student politics.<ref>{{cite web|author=Roshan Kumar |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160219/jsp/bihar/story_70065.jsp#.VtqLOpx97IU |title=His college remembers a fiery speaker |publisher=Telegraphindia.com |date=2016-02-19 |accessdate=2016-03-16}}</ref> He joined the AISF and a year later was selected as a delegate at its conference in Patna. After completing his post graduation with MA in sociology from the Nalanda Open University, Patna, again securing a first class, Kanhaiya Kumar moved to ] and after ranked first in the JNU entrance exam in 2011,<ref>http://m.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/my-mother-is-my-biggest-inspiration-kanhaiya/article8333564.ece</ref> joined JNU where he is currently pursuing a ] in African studies at the School of International Studies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jnu-row-how-kanhaiya-kumar-became-president-of-jnu-s-students-union-2177843|title=JNU row: How Kanhaiya Kumar became President of JNU's students union|date=15 February 2016|work=dna}}</ref> | |||
| In 2015 September, Kanhaiya Kumar became the first AISF member to become president of the JNU students’ union, defeating the AISA (]), ABVP (]), SFI (]) and NSUI (]) candidates. Kumar's friends and spectators describe him as a great orator. A speech he made the night before his election is credited as the reason for his victory.<ref>{{cite web|title=10 Lesser Known Facts about Kanhaiya Kumar – The JNUSU President!|url=http://nationalviews.com/about-kanhaiya-kumar-jnu-president-biography|accessdate=18 February 2016}}</ref> | |||
| ==2016 sedition controversy== | |||
| {{Main|2016 JNU sedition controversy}} | |||
| On 12 February 2016, Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested by the Delhi police. A case was registered against him on Feb 13, under ] Sections 124-A (]) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). He was charged over an event organised by some students at the Jawaharlal Nehru university campus against the hanging of Parliament attack convict ], following complaints by ] Member of Parliament ] and the ABVP. Kanhaiya Kumar denied the charges and said that he was neither shouting any slogan nor saying anything against integrity of the country. He said in an interview that "I dissociate myself from the slogans which were shouted in the event. I have full faith in the Constitution of the country and I always say that Kashmir is an integral part of India”.<ref>, TIME, 15 February 2016.</ref> During his interrogation Kanhaiya insisted that he did not say anything that was seditious.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-today-accesses-jnusu-president-kanhaiya-kumar-interrogation-report/1/598045.html|title=Exclusive: JNUSU chief Kanhaiya Kumar's interrogation report accessed|publisher=}}</ref> | |||
| Kanhaiya Kumar's arrest soon snowballed into a major political controversy and has drawn sharp reactions from opposition parties, teachers, students and academics. Students at Jawaharlal Nehru University went on strike over Kanhaiya Kumar’s arrest, effectively paralysing the University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/15/jawaharlal-nehru-university-kanhaiya-kumar-student-arrest-india|title=Protests to continue at Indian university after student leader's arrest|author=Jason Burke|work=the Guardian}}</ref> | |||
| Kanhaiya Kumar's parents stated that their son was being victimized for his opposition to ] politics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/jnusu-president-kanhaiya-kumar-victim-of-hindutva-politics-say-parents/story-TS8Qt3V5fHBl8GnMfpYumI.html|title=JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar ‘victim of Hindutva politics’ say parents|work=Hindustan Times}}</ref> When Kumar was brought to the Patiala House court on February 15, 2016, JNU students and professors, as well as journalists, were attacked by a group of lawyers. BJP MLA O.P. Sharma was also involved in the assault, although he later denied the charge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/jnu-kanhaiya-kumar-patiala-house-court-lawyers-media-attacked/|title=Sedition case against JNUSU president: Lawyers, BJP MLA take law in their fists|date=16 February 2016|work=The Indian Express}}</ref> On 17 February, Kumar was once again assaulted by some lawyers inside the Patiala House court.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lawyers attack arrested JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar in Patiala House court complex|url=http://www.timesofindia.com/india/Lawyers-attack-arrested-JNUSU-president-Kanhaiya-Kumar-in-Patiala-House-court-complex/articleshow/51024005.cms|publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=17 February 2016}}</ref> On February 22, 2016, '']'' broadcast a video in which three lawyers of the Patiala House court claimed that they had beaten Kanhaiya Kumar while the latter was in police custody.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mathur|first1=Avarnita|title=EXCLUSIVE: Kanhaiya wet his pants while we beat him up in police custody, say lawyers behind Patiala House assault|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/exclusive-kanhaiya-wet-his-pants-while-we-beat-him-up-in-police-custody-say-lawyers-behind-patiala-house-assault/1/602690.html|accessdate=24 February 2016|work=India today|date=22 February 2016}}</ref> A six member Supreme Court-appointed panel later confirmed that the policemen present at the Court were responsible for the security lapses, and further stating that police allowed 2 persons to enter the court room, and continued to let the assault take place, in direct violation of the SC direction on Kanhaiya's safety.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kanhaiya-kumar-patiala-house-court-delhi-police-bs-bassi-supreme-court/|title=JNU sedition case: Video is out; Kanhaiya Kumar assaulted, breaks down, police duck for cover|date=28 February 2016|work=The Indian Express}}</ref> | |||
| On 2 March 2016, Kumar was granted interim bail for 6 months by the Delhi High Court, conditional on a 10,000 rupee bail bond and an undertaking that he would not "participate in any anti-national activity."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mathur|first1=Aneesha|title=JNU row: Kanhaiya Kumar gets 6-month interim bail by Delhi HC|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kanhaiya-kumar-bail-jnu-delhi-high-court/|accessdate=2 March 2016|work=Indian Express|date=2 March 2016}}</ref> Justice Pratibha Rani noted that there were no recordings of Kumar participating in anti-national slogans. Going beyond the immediate issue, the judge also held that the alleged slogans threaten national integrity and cannot be considered as free speech. She characterized them as a form of "infection," which can either be treated or, in some cases, "amputation is the only treatment."<ref name="lesson">, Indian Express, 3 March 2016.</ref><ref>, Scroll.in, 2 March 2016.</ref> A separate magisterial investigation appointed by the Delhi Government did not find any evidence of Kanhaiya Kumar participating in anti-national slogans. Out of the 7 videos of the event sent to forensic lab, three were found to be doctored including a clipping of a news channel.<ref name="clean_hit">, Economic Times, 3 March 2016.</ref> | |||
| On 3 March 2016, Kanhaiya Kumar gave a speech to a packed auditorium in the JNU campus, during which he said he was seeking, not freedom from India, but freedom ''within'' India. He appealed to his fellow students to free the nation from the clutches of the ], which he said was trying to divide the nation. He further added that, "] (second Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) met ]". It was ] who met ] and not ]. This factual error was pointed out by ] from JNU and ] from Delhi University. It’s also a myth that ] was a guide for the ].<ref>, Indian Express, 8 March 2016.</ref><ref>, Indian Express, 4 March 2016.</ref><ref>, Zee News, 6 March 2016.</ref> Referring to the ABVP(right wing student organization), whose members were instrumental in bringing about his arrest, he called them his "opposition", not his enemy. He urged his supporters to keep raising the slogans of '']'' (freedom).<ref>, The Hindu, 3 March 2016.</ref><ref>, NDTV, 3 March 2016.</ref><ref>, DNA India, 3 March 2016.</ref> The speech won accolades from the leaders of all non-BJP parties as well as independent commentators.<ref>, Deccan Chronicle, 4 March 2016.</ref><ref>, Rediff News, 4 March 2016.</ref> ] commented that it turned Kumar into a "nationwide political star," and congratulated BJP for creating his phenomenon.<ref>, NDTV Opinion, 5 March 2016.</ref> | |||
| Following his release from jail, Kumar has faced bounties and death threats. Kuldeep Varshnay, a leader of the youth wing of BJP was expelled from the organisation for offering Rs 5 lakh as a reward to anyone who cut off Kumar’s tongue.<ref>, The Hindustan Times, 6 March 2016.</ref> Posters were put up in New Delhi offering Rs 11 lakh as a reward to anyone who shoots Kumar.<ref>, The Hindustan Times, 5 March 2016.</ref> Adarsh Sharma who allegedly put up these posters has been arrested on 7 March 2016.<ref>, NDTV.com, 7 March 2016.</ref> | |||
| A high-level inquiry committee of Jawaharlal Nehru University found out that provocative slogans at the controversial February 9 event inside the campus were raised by a group of outsiders, wearing masks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/jnu-row-provocative-slogans-were-shouted-by-outsiders-says-universitys-probe-panel_1866104.html |title=JNU row: Provocative slogans were shouted by outsiders, says university's probe panel | Zee News |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |date= |accessdate=2016-03-16}}</ref> | |||
| ==Other controversies== | |||
| ===Statements alleging human rights violations by the Indian Army=== | |||
| On 8 March 2016, speaking at an ] event, Kumar referred to the ] committed by personnel of the Indian Army. This speech was criticised as being "anti-national" by the ] (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP. Kumar is reported to have said; "No matter how much you try to stop us, we will speak up against human rights violations. We will raise our voice against AFSPA. While we have a lot of respect for our soldiers, we will still talk about the fact that in Kashmir women are raped by security personnel." The BJYM filed a complaint in a Delhi police station against Kumar and JNU professor ], alleging that they made "anti-national" statements.<ref>, Business Standard, 9 March 2016.</ref> Mayank Tiwari, a BJP worker in Bihar, filed sedition and defamation case against Kumar in a civil court in Patna.<ref>, Times of India, 11 March 2016.</ref><ref>, Business Standard, 11 March 2016.</ref> Jitendra Tiwari and Farooq Khan, leaders of the Youth Congress in ], published a poster attacking Kumar for statements that were supposedly derogatory towards the army.<ref>, Times of India, 11 March 2016.</ref> | |||
| ===Alleged threatening of a female student=== | |||
| On 10 March 2016, Kamlesh Narwana, Ex JNU student unveiled an unsigned University order dated October 16, 2015. According to the document, Kanhaiya Kumar was fined Rs. 3000 for misbehaving and threatening a woman student. News agency Press Trust of India claimed that the authenticity of the letter is confirmed by the (JNU) university.<ref>, NDTV.com, 10 March 2016.</ref><ref>, Deccan Chronicle, 10 March 2016.</ref> Narwana, who is currently an Assistant Professor at the ], wrote an open letter to Kumar and posted it on Facebook. She alleged that Kumar was urinating in the open and, when she objected, he became abusive and threatened her. The student wing of CPI, All India Students' Federation, the organisation of which Kumar is a member, said such a probe had been instituted but dismissed the allegations as "completely fake." They said that Kumar "did not appear before any enquiry", nor "pay the Rs.3,000 fine mentioned." They alleged that the case was filed to defame Kanhaiya and to tarnish his image <ref>, The Times of India, 10 March 2016.</ref> | |||
| == Subsequent attacks on Kumar == | |||
| On March 10, 2016, Kanhaiya Kumar was manhandled and abused on the JNU campus by a man who accused him of being a “deshdrohi” (traitor). The man was later identified as Vikas Chaudhary of Gaziabad, who stated that he wanted to “teach Kanhaiya a lesson”. Addressing students later in the day, Kumar said such incidents couldn’t scare him. “You can kill me, you can silence me but you cannot scare me. But before you kill me, think about Rohith Vemula. When you killed one Rohith, several Rohiths came forward. If you kill someone else now, many others will stand up. This is all happening as part of a plan." <ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kanhaiya-attacked-at-jnu-by-suspected-outsider/#sthash.CgFKfaz3.dpuf |title=Kanhaiya manhandled, abused in JNU by man who wanted to ‘teach him a lesson’ |publisher=The Indian Express |date=2016-03-11 |accessdate=2016-03-16}}</ref> | |||
| On March 15, 2016, four people tried to attack Kanhaiya Kumar in separate instances. The attacks occurred during a march in New Delhi of JNU students and staff led by Kumar, demanding the release of the students who had been arrested and charged with sedition. Three individuals shouted abuses at Kumar during his speech near the Parliament Street police station before being taken away by the police, while another managed to climb the truck over which Kumar was standing while addressing the gathering. The fourth man was also taken away by the police before he could reach Kumar. The four men were released from custody later in the evening.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/persons-try-to-attack-kanhaiya-during-march/20160315.htm |title=Kanhaiya 'attacked' during march - Rediff.com India News |publisher=Rediff.com |date= |accessdate=2016-03-16}}</ref> | |||
| On March 28, 2016, Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena's national president, Amit Jani, posted a threat on Facebook that his organisation will storm the JNU campus and gun down Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid unless the two leave Delhi by March 31. <ref>http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/will-storm-jnu-shoot-kanhaiya-kumar-and-umar-khalid-before-durga-ashtami-threatens-up-navnirman-sena_1869761.html</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| * Southik Biswas, , BBC News, 11 March 2016. | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Kanhaiya}} | |||
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