Former JNU Students’ Union leader Kanhaiya Kumar was left incensed recently after members of the right-wing brigade launched a fresh campaign on his educational qualification.
Also joining the anti-Kanhaiya campaign was the socialite Suhel Seth, who slammed Kanhaiya since he ‘failed for the 11th time in JNU,’ where the former is pursuing his PhD degree. Seth, who’s expected to be an expert on everything while taking part in TV debates, wrote, “Someone told me that @kanhaiyajnusu has failed for the 11th time in JNU. Does that make him a worthy applicant to the @INCIndia party? And why the hell are we taxpayers funding this loser’s education or the lack of it?”
Seth’s tweet was posted at 9.58 PM on Sunday, nearly seven hours after Kanhaiya had already tweeted clarifying that there was no truth to the campaign against him since there was no exam to obtain the PhD degree. Kanhaiya’s tweet, posted on the same day at 3.05 PM had read, “Those who don’t read anything other than Modi Chaleesa, wouldn’t perhaps know that there’s no exam in PhD. One is expected to write a thesis. I study in JNU, not in WhatsApp university. Neither have I ever failed in any exam. Do file an RTI application if you want. I will never refuse to show my degree like Modi ji.”
A day later, noted Supreme Court lawyer, Prashant Bhushan, too threw his weight behind Kanhaiya and targeted Seth by calling him a ‘paid agent’ of ‘criminal corporates.’ Bhushan wrote, “So what should be done with people like @suhelseth who earn millions as paid agents of criminal corporates & spread utter vile lies? Are being educated in Modi’s WhatsApp University & have the temerity to falsely accuse those who study in our finest University.”
So what should be done with people like @suhelseth who earn millions as paid agents of criminal corporates & spread utter vile lies? Are being educated in Modi’s WhatsApp University & have the temerity to falsely accuse those who study in our finest University https://t.co/bTK2YQx3v3
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) April 24, 2018
This left Seth visibly angry prompting him to write a scathing reply. Seth clarified that he had corrected his original tweet. He wrote, “For a man who hates everything that’s right with our country, it’s a bit rich for a dolt like YOU to talk! Obviously English is not your forte. Go back into your cave you unhappy desolate man. You belong there. And if you were taught to read, you’d notice I did correct myself!”
After facing flak from social media users, Seth had indeed corrected himself and posted the following tweet; “I have just been told that the news of @kanhaiyajnusu having failed 11 times is FAKE. But then he still has to submit a thesis for his doctoral degree. There could be nothing more earth shattering to now have a Dr Kanhaiya amidst us. Fate will deal academia a deathly blow.”
One wonders if Seth could have spared his blushes if he had cared to gather his facts before posting the nasty tweet against Kanhaiya. After all he’s expected to possess knowledge on everything.