Kanhaiya Asks Irani: Can a Mother Drive Her Child to Suicide?

JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar writes an open letter to HRD Minister Smriti Irani, questions Rohith Vemula’s suicide.

JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, who was booked on sedition charges after anti-national slogans at an event on 9 February, at the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, has written an open letter to HRD Minister Smriti Irani.

In his letter, he raised the issues of Rohith Vemula’s suicide and the current state of JNU students. The latter are on a hunger strike to protest against the punishment by the university in connection with the 9 February event.

Also Read: Kanhaiya’s Fast Maybe Over, but He Insists Agitation Is Still On

He asked her how Rohith Vemula died in PM Modi’s regime, where besides our own mother, we also have Mother Cow, Mother India, Mother Ganges and Mother Smriti. He also wrote:

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. Please reply, if you find the time.

Kanhaiya, who had to withdraw his hunger strike on the 10th day due to medical reasons, was discharged on Friday from AIIMS after treatment for mild dehydration and ketosis.

So far, six students have withdrawn their fast, but fourteen others are continuing with the hunger strike.

Read the full letter:

Dear Madam Smriti Irani – self-declared mother of all varsity students,

I wish you a happy Mother’s Day on behalf of all university students.

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.

Today, a friend sent me this image and asked how under Mr Modi’s regime – where besides our own mother, we also have Mother Cow, Mother India, Mother Ganges and Mother Smriti – could Rohith 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 Rohith’s fellowship for seven months.

In a great country like India, can a mother force 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. Please reply, if you find the time. The friend who sent this image calls you the “anti-rational mother of anti-nationals.” I hope you will prove this allegation false in your factual reply.

It is a mother’s duty to teach her children to call a spade a spade and raise their voice against injustice. That’s why several mothers of JNU have come out to encourage their children on hunger strike today. These even include an 80-year-old mother in a wheel chair. We are waiting for you.

In expectation of your reply,

Kanhaiya Kumar,

JNU, Delhi

(The letter comes as an official statement from the JNUSU President’s Media Whatsapp Group shared with The Quint)