Describing the RSS as force behind the Narendra Modi Government, JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar today alleged the present dispensation had converted the country into a "laboratory of communalism and anti-Dalit" policies.
"Modi is the Prime Minister and the RSS is his strength. They have converted the country into a laboratory of communalism and anti-Dalit policies. Why do you fear when we talk about our ideology seeking social equality and fight to end casteism?" he asked, addressing a packed gathering of students assembled under the banner of Progressive Students' Association.
Kumar, who arrived here under heavy police security in the backdrop of the alleged physical assault on him aboard a Jet Airways flight to Pune, also asserted he was not going to be intimidated by such attacks.
"Police are telling lies saying that what happened in the morning was a quarrel over seats. Quarrel over seats take place in Mumbai local trains and not on planes.
"I do not want to press charges against the attackers because they also belong to us and have been incited. But I will not be intimidated," he said, referring to the incident that forced him to travel by road to Pune.
Referring to "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" slogan controversy and Yoga guru Ramdeo's comments, he said "We will certainly say 'Bharat Mata ki jai', but who has given you monopoly over this?"
The 29-year-old JNU student alleged that the nature of "Bharat Mata" was being altered.
"Earlier, Bharat Mata held farm grains in one hand and tiranga on another. Now tricolour is being replaced by bhagwa (saffron). These people will change the national flag. They have nothing to do with nationalism. What they want to promote is one religion and one culture".
He said nationalism was being equated with "Brahminism" which signalled danger to the country.
Kumar sought to dispel the notion that students in the country were being instigated against the Prime Minister.
"We have no personal animosity against Modi. We are only demanding our rights. Give us employment. When we talk of democratic and constitutional rights of people, we are branded anti-national.
(REOPENS BOM 10)
"What to eat and whom to love is everybody's constitutional right in this country," Kumar said.
Referring to the FTII students' agitation over appointment of its Chairman, he alleged the RSS was trying to gain control over all national institutions and autonomy of universities in the country was being trampled upon.
An impression was being created that opposition to Modi and RSS amounted to being anti-national. Also, opposition to Manusmriti was like opposing the Constitution, he said.
Kumar, who was denied permission by police to visit the city-based FTII which saw prolonged agitation last year, said his fight for social equality, economic exploitation , justice and secularism would continue unabated.
A big crowd gathered outside the Balgandharva auditorium where the meeting was held, with police allowing only those with entry passes inside the venue.
(Reopens BOM 11)
Kanhaiya also said the NDA regime was trying to
appropriate Dr B R Ambedkar, but was afraid of his followers.
"These people want to encroach on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar now, but at the same time, we are the one who study him and are walking on the path shown by him, however, these people are scared of us," he said.
Pune was the land of (Mahatma Gandhi's assassin) Nathuram Godse, but it was also the land of Dr Narendra Dabholkar who fought against superstition (and who was murdered in the city in August 2013), he said.
"Here in the country, those who fight against superstition, old traditions and practises, class and casteism, are called anti-national....These people want to play identity politics, but we are not in favour of segregation of castes but in removing them," he said.
Kanhaiya was presented with Phule pagadi--the distinctive turban worn by the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule--and a copy of the Constitution by the organisers.
Taking a dig at Modi's tweet about connecting Gram Sabhas through technology, Kumar advised him to use technology to provide relief to the drought-hit regions in Maharashtra.
He also advised the PM to speak on drought and how the people live in Dharavi slum in Mumbai during his radio talks.
"When I arrived in the city, police handed me a notice, asking to abstain from making any provocative speech. My answer is we do not want to win elections by inciting public emotions and that is not our business. We are doing research through taxpayers' money and we want to work for society," he said.
"Modi-ji talks about his mother, but my question is have you ever met Rohith's mother, have you met Delta's mother," he said, referring to the Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula who committed suicide, and Delta Meghwal, a Dalit girl who was raped and murdered in Rajasthan two years ago.
