Kanhaiya writes open letter to Smriti Irani on Mother's Day

JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who is out on bail in a sedition case, on Sunday wrote an open letter to Education Minister Smriti Irani on occasion of Mother's Day and asked how can a "mother" punish her children on basis of biased probe reports and doctored videos.

Referring to the university investigation report of the controversial February 9 event during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised, Kanhaiya, who has been attacking Ms Irani for her reference to all students as her children, said in the letter, "we are trying hard to study in the warmth of your motherly love. Under your reign, we are learning how to study despite police canes and hunger".

In an open letter with sarcastic overtones, the 29-year-old researcher referred to Ms Irani as "anti-rational" mother of "anti-nationals" and extended Mother's Day wishes on behalf of students.

"Today a friend sent asked me how under Mr Modi's regime--where besides our own mother, we also have Mother Cow, Mother India, Mother Ganges and Mother Smriti--how could Rohith Vemula die. I am asking you this because I have no answer. The same anti-national friend also said that Mother Smriti's ministry sent several letters to punish Rohith and was also responsible for withholding his fellowship for seven months," he said in the letter on



Sunday.

"In a great country like India, can a mother drive her child to suicide? Can a mother accept punishments on her children based on doctored videos and a biased probe? Your children, starving for 11 days, are asking you this question," he wrote.

"Please reply, if you find the time. The friend also called you an 'anti-rational mother of anti-nationals'. I hope you will prove this allegation false in your factual reply," he added.

Meanwhile, the indefinite hunger strike by JNU students in protest against the punishments awarded by university in connection with the Afzal Guru event, entered 11th day on Sunday.

Kanhaiya had withdrawn from the fast last week after his health deteriorated and he had to undergo treatment for dehydration and ketosis at AIIMS. So far, six students have withdrawn from the strike while 14 others are still continuing with their fast.

In celebration of mother's day at JNU, various mothers residing on campus and outsiders including an 80-year-old wheelchair-bound woman, joined the fasting students by going on a one day hunger strike in solidarity.

ABVP member Saurabh Sharma, who was complainant of the February 9 event and has been slapped with a fine of Rs. 10,000 for blocking traffic, started a donation campaign on Sunday to pay his penalty.