Patna, Sep 6 (PTI) All India Students’ Association president Neha Bora on Sunday alleged that Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj was a “criminal” whose defiant stance should worry even “those who support the BJP”.
Bora, who was among those who went on a three-week-long fast at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, was replying to queries from journalists about Bhardwaj, who has been arrested for the assault on the father of one of the student protesters.
“Bhardwaj’s lack of repentance is a telling commentary on the state of affairs in the country. An impression has gained ground that you could get away with any wrongdoing if you are aligned with the ruling dispensation”, alleged the student leader.
“You should spot the contrast. A criminal like Bhardwaj was arrested only after a dharna by the Cockroach Janata Party compelled Delhi Police to register an FIR. On the other hand, two Muslim journalists in Delhi got beaten up by police just for asking questions at a function of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta,” she said.
Notably, Bhardwaj had bragged in a viral podcast that he had “cracked open the skull” of the father of Dalit student activist Nishu Azad, who has alleged that stones and bricks were being hurled at her house by his supporters after the arrest.
Bora said, “It is not just Nishu who is being threatened. The goons are trying to tell BJP supporters that they shall meet the same fate if their children dare to question the government over any issue. Now it is for the supporters of the regime to reflect on their political choice”.
The Left-wing student leader also reacted sarcastically to Bhardwaj’s claim that he was close to Union minister Chirag Paswan, who heads Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and BJP leader Kapil Mishra.
“It is now for both these esteemed leaders to come clean. If they fail to disown Swatantra Bhardwaj, who is a criminal, it shall be deemed that they too consider themselves to be in the same category,” Bora said.
Paswan has alleged that Bhardwaj had been “misusing” his name and vowed to help Azad in her quest for justice. PTI NAC BDC
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