Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod
Kasargod, Sep 24: Former president of JNU students' union and leader of All India Students Federation (AISF) Kanhaiya Kumar on Sunday September 24 blamed the Sangh Parivar for the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh and called upon the people to 'fight communal forces'.
Kanhaiya Kumar, who had grabbed headlines during intense protests in JNU last year, was speaking to reporters during his visit to Kasargod on Sunday September 24.
"India's biggest enemy is not Pakistan, but poverty and unemployment, but the government is trying to brush this fact under the carpet. The government is not responding to the problems existing within the country," he said.
"It is essential to fight against communal forces. We should not allow the seeds of communalism to take root in India's soil. I condemn the murders of journalists and writers. Journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder is still fresh in our memory. But just a few days after her murder, another journalist and his mother were killed in Punjab. Pansare and Kalburgi were murdered only because they posed challenge to the communal forces, and no other reason. They were not killed because of any political rivalry," he said.
Blaming the Sangh Parivar for the above murders, he said, "Sangh Parivar is killing anyone who raises voice against communal forces. It is necessary to fight against communalism. All parties should join hands to defeat such forces."
Urging youngsters not to fall prey to fake news, he said, "Today lots of youngsters are getting entrapped in new media which are spreading false and fake news. This signals a dangerous trend in the country. There is a conspiracy to lure youths in the wrong path. Youngsters should be able to understand this."
Kanhaiya Kumar was accorded a warm welcome in Kasargod. State revenue minister E Chandrashekaran, CPI district secretary Govindan, CPI state committee member K V Krishnan, Prabhakar Rao, Radhakrishna Perumbala, Karnataka state committee member Dr Srinivas Kukkilaya, CPM district committee member C H Kunhambu and others were present.
Kanhaiya was taken in a bike rally from Kasargod new bus stand to Kottachery, Kanhangad.
The police deployed tight security during Kanhaiya's visit.