Former JNU Students’ Union President Kanhaiya Kumar is facing widespread condemnation on social media after a video showed him dissociating himself from Umar Khalid.
In a viral video, Kanhaiya Kumar could be seen dissociating himself from Umar Khalid, who’s been languishing in jail for more than a year after the government slapped sedition charges against him. Both Kanhaiya and Umar were arrested under sedition charges during their time as students in the JNU.
In the viral video, a reporter was seen asking, “Umar Khalid has been your friend.” Kanhaiya replied, “Who told you so?”
Kanhaiya did not stop here. When the reporter reminded him about his past JNU association, he asked for video proof.
As expected, the former JNU Students Union leader began to face widespread condemnation from Twitterati.
A friend who abandons you in your tough times is no less than a backstabber. He’s worse than an upfront enemy. Kanhaiya Kumar, the selfish, opportunistic coward didn’t deserve Umar Khalid’s friendship. Good riddance for Umar. And a lesson learnt for Muslims. We are in this alone. https://t.co/xMJJzPtzCD
— Irena Akbar (@irenaakbar) December 20, 2021
Kanhaiya K disowning Umar Khalid is the saddest thing I read today
— Mahua/ মহুয়া (@mahuadey20) December 21, 2021
When Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested in 2016 in JNU, Sharjeel Imam organised a protest for him. Umar Khalid was campaigning for Kahnaiya in Begusarai and now Kanhaiya don't even remember his friend Umar Khalid who is languishing in jail under draconian UAPA for being a Vocal Muslim.
— Gabbar (@Gabbar0099) December 20, 2021
पत्रकार : उमर खालिद आप के दोस्त हैं
कन्हैया कुमार : कौन बताया…?वीडियो: Nadeem alag Andaaz pic.twitter.com/PEeBGNqYpv
— Ashraf Hussain (@AshrafFem) December 20, 2021
Kanhaiya Kumar JNU scholar Umar Khalid and Gujarat MLA and Dalit activist Jignesh Mewani during Freedom of Expression Meet a programme organsied on the first death anniversary of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh ib bangaluru.are you remember this or not @kanhaiyakumar#UmarKhalid pic.twitter.com/NVQW1A0nnX
— waseem ahamed (@Ahamed2009) December 21, 2021
In 2016, Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested for allegedly raising anti-national slogans in the JNU. They were later released on bail.
Kanhaiya later joined the CPI and unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha polls from Bihar’s Begusarai constituency. Months later, he joined the Congress party.
This is not the first time that Kanhaiya has dissociated from Umar, his former comrade-in-arms. Last year, the former JNU Students’ Union leader had decided to skip a press conference, held in Delhi to register protest against the illegal arrest of Umar Khalid. Kanhaiya was one of the scheduled speakers at the event but later decided not to be associated with Umar.
When a newspaper later grilled him for his no-show at the press conference, a visibly angry Kanhaiya had asked the publication why such questions were not being asked to other opposition leaders.
