ABVP, Bajrang Dal ‘purify’ statue garlanded by JNU leader Kanhaiya Kumar

Begusarai: A group of ABVP and Bajrang Dal activists in Bihar’s Begusarai district washed the statue of renowned poet Dinkar with ‘gangajal’ on Friday to protest against JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, who garlanded and paid floral tributes.

ABVP and Bajrang Dal members also organized a ‘hawan’ puja and sprinkled ‘gangjal’ on the ground in Begusarai where Kanhaiya Kumar addressed a public meeting of Communist Party of India on Thursday.

ABVP activists shouted slogans that the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president, who has been charged with sedition, has made this ground impure by his presence.

However, after a long time, there is a festive mood in Bihat village in Begusarai on Friday as a famous son of the soil is visiting his home for first time after arrested on the charge of sedition and later released on the bail.

Kanhaiya’s parents, other family members, relatives, neighbours and villagers have been celeberating Kanhaiya’s visit to his native village.

“It is time of celeberation not only for us but entire village as Kanhaiya has finally arrived after a long wait,” said Kanhaiya’s father Jaishankar Singh, who is in his early 60s and paralysed on one side of his body.

Kanhaiya was welcomed by villagers when he arrived at his native village on Thursday night.

Kanhaiya’s mother Meena Devi is not hiding her happiness after her son is at home.

“I am cooking some special desi-dishes for him,” said Meena, an angaanwadi worker who earns Rs 3,000 a month.

According to her, Kanhaiya will also attend a marriage of a family member during his two day stay in the village.

In view of threat perception to Kanhaiya, tough security arrangements have been made in Bihat and around his home during his stay, district police official Ranjit Kumar Mishra said.

In April, Kanhaiya visited Patna but did not visit his native village during two-day visit.

Kanhaiya arrived in Patna on Wednesday and participated in ‘Pratirodh march’ here to support the ongoing agitation at college of arts and crafts here.

Kanhaiya also addressed a public meeting of CPI in Begusarai on Thursday,where he was given rousing welcome.

Kanhaiya, who was arrested on the charge of sedition in February in connection with an event on JNU campus against hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised, was released on bail in March.