New Delhi: A controversy erupted today over Congress leader Shashi Tharoor comparing JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar, facing sedition charges, with Bhagat Singh, drawing strong criticism from BJP, which accused the former Union minister of insulting the freedom fighter.
Addressing a group of students at the JNU last night, Mr Tharoor, while listing the names of victims of sedition law under British rule, said Bhagat Singh was the Kanhaiya Kumar of his time.
“The biggest victims of sedition law under the British rule were Jawa-harlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Annie Besant and Bhagat Singh,” he
said. When a girl mentioned about Kanhaiya, prompt came the remark that “Bhagat Singh was the Kanhaiya Kumar of his time.”
There has been only one Bhagat Singh: Congress
The Congress on Monday virtually disapproved of party leader Shashi Tharoor comparing JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar, facing sedition charges, with Bhagat Singh.
“There has been only one Bhagat Singh. There is only one Bhagat Singh”, party spokesman Manish Tewari said when asked about Tharoor’s remarks which has sparked a controversy. BJP has accused Tharoor, a former Union Minister, of insulting the legendery freedom fighter.
Addressing a group of students in JNU last night, Tharoor, while listing the names of victims of sedition law under British rule had said Bhagat Singh was the Kanhaiya Kumar of his time. “The biggest victims of sedition law under the British rule were Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Annie Besant,” he said.
When a girl mentioned the name of Bhagat Singh, prompt came the remark that “Bhagat Singh was the Kanhaiya Kumar of his time.” The BJP took strong exception to Tharoor’s comment saying it was an insult to the “great freedom fighter” as well as all patriots of the country.
