Netizen slams Kanhaiya Kumar for disowning Umar Khalid, Meeran Haider
Says "Who told you so?" when reporter calls Umar his friend
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.
Allu Arjun didn't leave theatre despite being told about woman's death: Hyderabad police
Hyderabad, Dec 22: Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun did not leave the theatre during the screening of 'Pushpa-2' on December 4 despite being told to do so in view of a stampede in which a woman died, police officials claimed on on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference on the annual round-up of 2024, city police commissioner C V Anand showed a video, made by police, on the situation that prevailed when the stampede occurred.
The video was made by collating footage, including from news channels and cell phone clips. It suggests the actor remained in the theatre till the midnight.
Anand did not make any comment on the video, but said the media can draw its own conclusions.
A police official talked about the sequence of events on the fateful night of December 4.
He said that he and other police officials informed a manager of Allu Arjun about the death of the woman and told him that the situation was out of control. He indicated that they were not allowed to meet the actor.
Allu Arjun's staff members told them that they would convey the matter to the actor but did not do so, he said.
The official said he later managed to reach the actor, told him about the woman's death and asked him to leave the theatre so that the fans don't harm each other while trying to catch a glimpse of him.
The official also told the actor that security arrangements would be made for his exit.
However, the actor said he would go only after watching the film, the police official said.
Later, accompanied by a senior officer, the official went inside and brought the actor out, he said.
Amid allegations that bouncers hired by Allu Arjun pushed crowds as well as policemen when the stampede occurred at the cinema hall, the police commissioner warned that stringent action as per law would be taken if THE bouncers indeed misbehaved with the police on duty.
The VIPs would be made responsible for the behaviour of the bouncers hired by them, he said.
Asked if the police would appeal against the interim bail granted to Allu Arjun, the commissioner refused to give a direct response, just saying it is part of the investigation.
What course of action is taken would be known in the days to come, he said.
He also declined to comment when asked if the family of the deceased told him about Allu Arjun's team or film production team allegedly threatening them not to speak on the issue.
Meanwhile, state Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy found fault with Allu Arjun responding on Saturday to the debate in the Legislative Assembly.
The minister, who observed that the actor should have respect for the government and the chief minister, demanded an apology from Allu Arjun to the government and the CM.
"This government is never vindictive. As Cinematography Minister, we allowed benefit shows and hiking ticket prices to promote the film industry," he said.
However, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar found fault with CM Revanth Reddy for his comments on Allu Arjun in the Assembly on Saturday.
The comments of the CM sounded like character assassination of Allu Arjun and hurting the Telugu film industry, he alleged in a statement.
Later in the day, Sanjay Kumar visited a boy who is undergoing treatment in a hospital after being injured in the stampede.
"Consoled his father over the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Revathi. I pray to god that Sritej recovers at the earliest. Assured support to the family in this difficult time," Kumar said on X.
Earlier in the day, state DGP Jitender told reporters in Karimnagar district that film personalities and all others should understand that safety and security of citizens is utmost important, and also conduct themselves accordingly.
