New Delhi: Congress leader and former student activist, Kanhaiya Kumar on Tuesday was slammed by netizens after a video of his interaction went viral on social media. In the video, Kumar is seen avoiding questions about jailed student leader Umar Khalid and RJD leader Meeran Haider.
Kumar, in the video, is seen speaking to media reporters in Bihar’s Sivan when a reporter questioned him about the two activists. Kumar can be heard saying “Does Meeran Haider belong to my party?”
He then asked the reporter about Meeran Haider’s political affiliation. When the reporter says he is with Rashtriya Janata Dal, Kumar says “Then why are you asking me about him?”
Later, when the reporter questions Kumar about his “friend” Umar Khalid, Kumar replied, “Who told you so?”
Umar Khalid and Kumar, both shot their fame to national headlines during the protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in 2016 over the death of Dalit student Rohith Vemula.
Both were also slapped with sedition in a case in which the Delhi Police claimed that the two were a part of an event to commemorate convicted terrorist Afzal Guru where 'anti-India' slogans were allegedly raised.
Jamia student Meeran Haider was arrested and charged with sedition in December 2019 amid the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). He was also the head of the Delhi youth wing of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Another activist and former student leader Safoora Zargar also slammed Kumar and asked him to join BJP and RSS.
“Hey @kanhaiyakumar let me tell you @UmarKhalidJNU wouldn’t want to be friends with you. Plz join the BJP/RSS soon so that u don’t have to even PRETEND to be secular anymore. Would be a lot easier for you. You ll also win the seat u r so desperate for.” She wrote in her tweet.
पत्रकार : उमर खालिद आप के दोस्त हैं
— Ashraf Hussain (@AshrafFem) December 20, 2021
कन्हैया कुमार : कौन बताया…?
वीडियो: Nadeem alag Andaaz pic.twitter.com/PEeBGNqYpv
Hey @kanhaiyakumar let me tell you @UmarKhalidJNU wouldn’t want to be friends with you.
— Safoora Zargar (@SafooraZargar) December 20, 2021
Plz join the BJP/RSS soon so that u don’t have to even PRETEND to be secular anymore. Would be a lot easier for you. You ll also win the seat u r so desperate for.
— Shad Roaman (@Bihari_Ladka57) December 20, 2021
Umar khalid is not my friend says😀 #KanaiyaKumar @Human4Justice @sr_dijam @OmarHayat_Auth @SaifUlIslam_i @Dr_SQRIlyas @ShamsTabrezQ @ZakirAliTyagi
— Khalida Parveen (@kparveen2005) December 20, 2021
@Zadraan_ @alishan_jafri @AliZaidi_Adv @AsifTanhaJamia @SafooraZargar @AfreenFatima136 @MujtabaAasif @SharjeelUsmani pic.twitter.com/hyTuQVQp1L
इस अंधे को दिखा दो जो दोस्त को ही भूल गया है अपने, सायद याददास्त आ जाय इसकी pic.twitter.com/JiRjC07h5B
— आयशा राजपूत (@ahana_88) December 20, 2021
One should feel proud to call Umar Khalid his friend, for not many would stand for justice and dignity like he did and is currently doing being in jail on false charges. Umar Khalid is our leader and we are proud of him.
— Kawalpreet Kaur (@kawalpreetdu) December 20, 2021
A friend who abandons you in your tough times is no less than a backstabber. He’s worse than an upfront enemy. Kanhaiya Kumar, the selfish, opportunistic coward didn’t deserve Umar Khalid’s friendship. Good riddance for Umar. And a lesson learnt for Muslims. We are in this alone. https://t.co/xMJJzPtzCD
— Irena Akbar (@irenaakbar) December 20, 2021
Kanhaiya K disowning Umar Khalid is the saddest thing I read today
— Mahua/ মহুয়া (@mahuadey20) December 21, 2021
umar khalid is my friend i miss him and hope he’s out soon because he’s innocent and has been stitched up by amit and modi and a shameless and complicit police and judiciary @UmarKhalidJNU
— Aakar Patel (@Aakar__Patel) December 20, 2021
Kanhaiya Kumar Bhumihar has used Rohith Vemula institutional murder to make his own political career. Now he don’t know who is Umar Khalid.
— Harsh (@_ambedkarite) December 20, 2021
Shame to all those savarna journalists and activists who has supported him over the dalit and muslim leadership.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
New Delhi, Nov 15: The BCCI has strong objected to Pakistan Cricket Board's purported move to take the Champions Trophy for a tour of the disputed 'Pakistan Occupied Kashmir' (POK), prompting the global body ICC to put the promotional event on hold.
The tournament, last played in 2017, is already in limbo after the BCCI officially intimated ICC about Indian cricket team's inability to travel to Pakistan.
The PCB in return, as of now, has rejected the proposed 'Hybrid Model' with India playing its matches in Dubai. The schedule has also been put on hold and the new controversy could only make things ugly.
It is learnt that BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Friday spoke to the top brass of the ICC and condemned this move by Pakistan and has urged the global body to take strong note.
"The BCCI secretary, after it came to his notice, called up the ICC and was extremely critical of PCB's move to conduct a Trophy tour of multiple cities which fall under Pakistan Occupied Kashmir," a senior BCCI official privy to the development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
"He has urged the ICC to take strong action. As far as Islamabad is concerned, there is no issue but there can't be any Trophy tour to POK."
The Trophy Tour is part of the global body’s promotional campaign, involving visits to multiple cities as per discussions between the international body and the host country.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), without prior consultation with all stakeholders, announced on its official social media that the Trophy would be taken to Skardu, Murree, and Hunza -- areas that fall under the disputed territory.
"Get ready, Pakistan! The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour kicks off in Islamabad on 16 November, also visiting scenic travel destinations like Skardu, Murree, Hunza and Muzaffarabad. Catch a glimpse of the trophy which Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted in 2017 at The Oval, from 16-24 November," PCB tweeted.
When an ICC Board Member was contacted, he told PTI: "The discussions on Trophy tour is still on. I am not aware if PCB had kept everyone in loop about the four cities mentioned but if not then it was certainly not the right thing to do. I don't think ICC will allow PCB to take the trophy to any disputed region."