Shoe hurled at JNUSU leader Kanhaiya Kumar in RSS bastion Nagpur

Sedition-charged JNU students’ union leader Kanhaiya Kumar's car was on Thursday allegedly attacked by Bajrang Dal activists soon after he arrived in Nagpur to address a public gathering.

Pic Courtesy: ANI

Nagpur: Sedition-charged Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students’ union leader Kanhaiya Kumar was on Thursday allegedly attacked by Bajrang Dal activists shortly after he arrived here to address a public gathering.

According to media reports, the members of Bajrang Dal hurled a shoe at the JNUSU leader while he was addressing a public gathering here. Several members of Bajrang Dal had stormed the event and started shouting ''Kanhaiya Kumar Murdabad''.

The JNUSU leader, however, escaped unhurt. The incident triggered panic among the crowd after which police had to shield the controversial JNUSU leader.

Kumar was earlier attacked by a group of Bajrang Dal activists who pelted stones at his car and smashed its side windows.

The police also detained five persons in this connection.

Kumar's arrival in Nagpur had potentially brought him in direct confrontation with right-wing organisations in the Maharashtra city which houses the RSS headquarters.

Several organisations led by the Bajrang Dal had earlier vowed to foil the meeting by Kumar whom they accuse of spreading anti-national sentiments.

The JNUSU leader had come to the city to address a meeting to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, a Dalit icon whom Kumar considers his role-model.

It is Kumar’s first visit to the city after he was charged with sedition over a JNU event in February where anti-national slogans were allegedly shouted by a section of students.

The incident had sparked a nationwide debate on nationalism and led to a face-off between student groups and the BJP-led government at the Centre.

The meeting had been reportedly organised by the Progressive Students’ Youth Action Committee.