6 min readNew DelhiApr 20, 2024 03:09 AM IST
First published on: Apr 17, 2024 at 11:09 AM IST
Having begun his political journey at Jawaharlal Nehru University, shot to limelight as the original face of “the tukde-tukde gang”, and contested a failed Lok Sabha election on a CPI candidate from Begusarai in Bihar in 2019, Kanhaiya Kumar is now the Congress candidate from the North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. He is facing a tough contest in the seat against two-time sitting BJP MP and fellow Poorvanchali face, Manoj Tiwari.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Kanhaiya talks about his candidature, challenges in the polls and allegations of “tukde tukde gang”, among other things. Excerpts:
How big is the challenge before you given that the BJP has swept all the seven seats in Delhi in the past two Lok Sabha elections?
I am thankful to the people of Delhi, the leadership and workers of the Delhi Congress, and the Congress high command for reposing their faith in me. The party’s leadership thinks I can put up a good fight. We will uphold the Congress’s battle to protect democracy and the Constitution.
Though the contest is challenging, what we are seeing on the ground, not just in Delhi but across the country, is that people are unhappy with this government. The numbers we see on TV and electronic media are all bogus. The BJP is repeatedly talking about the same things. Their government has not delivered, has not been able to fulfill the expectations of the people and does not talk about issues like unemployment, price rise, farmers’ issues, women’s security and economic disparity.
In a democracy, every challenge is dependent on the people. It gets tougher when people are not happy. I am sure things will be positive (for us) and in favour of the Congress.
You will face Manoj Tiwari. So, it is a Bihari versus Bihari fight in Delhi…
This is Lok Sabha election, not a local one. The Congress has a national agenda. In our Nyay Patra (manifesto), we speak about justice for all sections of society – women, youth and farmers – and about representation.
The last 10 years (under the BJP) have been nothing less than ‘anyay kaal (period of injustice)’ where unemployment and prices have increased. This time, the fight is between injustice and justice.
What has the BJP done for the people of North East Delhi? How many jobs have been created? How many hospitals, schools or colleges have they built? These are the real issues.
How do you plan to counter the BJP’s claims of you being a member of the ‘tukde tukde gang’?
Why should I counter it? Jhooth ko counter nahin karna hai (Lies need not be countered). This would be falling into their agenda of diversion. In fact, the question is on them. All agencies – the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) – are under them. The Prime Minister and Home Minister are theirs. Who is stopping them (from arresting me) when they can put an elected CM in jail without a shred of evidence? They have been saying this for the past 10 years because they do not have anything else and want to divert the people’s attention (from real issues).
Even the Union Home Ministry has said it has no information about the ‘tukde tukde gang’. It is political propaganda, which means they do not have a real agenda.
Are you worried that your candidature will lead to polarisation?
Not at all. That is also the reason why I am not countering (the BJP’s allegations). People are fed up with this line of attack. You are not telling them why unemployment and prices are rising. Bullet train aur pucca ghar kahan gaya (Where is the bullet train and the promised houses)? They have delivered nothing and are resorting to polarisation, propaganda and divisive politics.
You hail from Bihar and contested the last Lok Sabha polls from Begusarai. Would you have preferred to fight elections from a seat in your home state?
As I said earlier, this is not a local election and the Congress is a pan-India party, like the BJP. Is Modiji from Varanasi? As far as Delhi is concerned, it is the Capital. So why this question?
My question was that if given a choice, would Begusarai or some other seat in Bihar have been your first preference?
Obviously. I would have liked to contest from Begusarai. Meri tayyari bhi Begusarai ke liye thi (My preparations were also for Begusarai). But the Congress is a part of the INDIA bloc and the seat was given to one of our partners. How could the Congress field a candidate from there?
How do you see this election?
The Bharat Jodo and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatras have shown us that all sections of society are struggling on different issues. What is the government doing? Din bhar propaganda aur dushprachar (All day they resort to propaganda and negative campaigning). They want to divert attention from the basic issues.
Data shows that at least one farmer dies by suicide in India every hour. While the GDP has increased, per capita GDP has not. One billionaire industrialist is among the top 10 richest people in the world while the country is slipping on the hunger index. Disparities have widened.
The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, which have been bitter rivals for long, are allies in Delhi. Would it not affect coordination during campaigning?
I think in such a situation, party workers and people come together first while the leaders join hands in the end. This alliance has taken shape on the ground to fight against those who want to weaken the country. There is mitr kaal (era of ‘friends’, implying rich industrialists) and anyay kaal on one side and, on the other side, are common people seeking justice.
A while ago, there was speculation that you will become the Delhi Congress chief. Is your candidature from North East Delhi a precursor to that?
Rajneeti prediction se nahin chalti (Politics does not play out on predictions). I do not think there is any such long-term plan.
"Even the Union Home Ministry has said it has no information about the 'tukde tukde gang'," Congress party leader Kanhaiya Kumar said (PTI) 
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