BJP is a brand new washing machine, mocks Kanhaiya Kumar

Citing a recent example as to how several media organisations took down the reports on Anant Ambani from their websites, former JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar said on Tuesday that in this country people can mock the Prime Minister but not Ambani scion.

The speech of Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and his spirited performance at an event to mark the 40th anniversary of the Reliance group had turned into fodder for first viral sarcastic memes and jokes in 2018.

“I sympathise with Modi ji when he says that he belongs to OBC, he used to sell tea and how his mother had to do menial jobs,” he said at Yuva Hunkaar Rally, a demonstration over demand for release of Dalit outfit Bhim Army's founder Chandrashekhar Azad and protest in favour of social and economic justice in New Delhi.

“When Anant Ambani claims Reliance meri jaan hai (Reliance is my life), his mother, Nita Ambani claps in front of Amitabh Bachchan and media portrays it as a great act of nationalism. No one asks him to chant Bharat Mata Ki jai or sing Vande Matram to prove his patriotism. But when Radhika Vemula demands justice, we are accused of playing caste politics. When Najeeb’s mother asks about the whereabouts of his missing son, we are billed as communal,” he lamented.

Coming down heavily on the BJP he said: “BJP isn’t a party, it’s like a brand new washing machine, wherein anything that goes in, comes out sparkling clean. Of the 282 MPs, 109 party MPs are accused in serious criminal cases such as rape and murder. Lalu must have been corrupt but he would still have been clean had he given support to the NDA. But what about Sukhram’s son or Mukul Roy, an accused in the Narada sting case and Shardha chit fund scam in Bengal?” he said. “

Referring to a journalist shooting some empty chairs at the site, he said, “We don’t have crowds, I agree. We don’t have hired crowds, but we have real, living breathing people seated on chairs here. I assure you we are going to intensify our fight for democracy and constitution. A farmer sows a few seeds in the field and knows how to harvest a good crop.”

Expressing concern over “declining” media credibility, he said: “there is an urgent need on part of media to restore its credibility as its fourth pillar of democracy.”

“We are not against any religion or any community, we are here for the constitution. You (media persons) also fight with your employers for the implementation of recommendations made by the Justice Majithia wage board and then you will get to know about our struggle,” he remarked. “We are fighting for equality. We will hold strikes in industries, railways, government departments and everywhere to protest slavery and save democracy.”

“When we fight in the name of Allah and Ram, its always Nathuram Godse, who will be the winner,” he said amid echoing chants of Jai Bhim and release Chandrashekhar. “We don't want violence. We have no hatred against anyone. We want a peaceful society. We are here not against any religion but we are here for Constitution. We want people should have the right to follow his or her religion peacefully. We have been painted as anti-Hindu but our only objective is to save the Constitution.”