Kanhaiya justifies joining Congress, pitches to 'save' country's oldest party

Asserting the importance of strengthening the opposition party, Kanhaiya Kumar, the former student union leader of JNU, compared Congress party to a 'big ship' while addressing the media at the Congress headquarters, flanked by senior Congress leaders. According to him, the country is "in danger" and "we need the courage of Bhagat Singh, equality of Ambedkar and unity of Mahatma Gandhi" to save the nation

New Delhi:Former student union leader of JNU, Kanhaiya Kumar, addressed a press conference after joining the Congress party which he called a 'big ship', asserting the country's opposition should not let to be weakened.

Raising the need to 'Save Congress,' Kumar addressed the press conference at the Congress headquarters along with independent Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani who too extended his support to the Congress ideology.

"The small ships will be saved only when the Congress is saved," said the former student's union leader who is known for his spellbinding speeches.

"I have decided to join the country's oldest party and the democratic party because I feel along with the lakhs of youths that if Congress is not saved, the country will not be saved," he said.

Kumar, who was flanked by senior Congress leaders, said the country is "in danger" and "we need the courage of Bhagat Singh, equality of Ambedkar and unity of Mahatma Gandhi".

He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as "Govinda of our times who changes his clothes often".

Kumar had joined the Communist Party of India (CPI) ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election and had unsuccessfully contested from Begusarai in Bihar against Giriraj Singh of the BJP.

Menavi to contest next Gujarat election

Mevani, who is currently a legislator in Gujarat and represents the Vadgam constituency, is the convener of the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch (RDAM). He said there is a sense of urgency to save the country and the youth should create an atmosphere in this regard.

Mevani said he is not joining the Congress due to "technical reasons" as he is still an independent MLA, but announced that he will contest the next Gujarat election on the Congress symbol and will participate in all Congress activities and campaign for the 2022 Gujarat assembly polls.

He is a lawyer-activist and a former journalist. Mevani's entry into the Congress comes at a time when it is wooing the scheduled castes community after handpicking the first Dalit chief minister of Punjab.

(With inputs from agencies)