BMC contract labourers collect Rs 10,000 for Kanhaiya Kumar’s JNU fine

Contract labourers of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have collected Rs 10,000 for JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar to pay the fine imposed on him by the university authorities. A union of contract labourers, Kachara Vahtuk Shramik Sangh (KVSS), has voluntarily collected the funds for Mr Kumar after the university took disciplinary action against him in a controversy over alleged shouting of anti-national slogans.

Overwhelmed by the generous act of the labourers, Mr Kumar thanked them. “Reached Patna and got wonderful news. Contract labourers of Mumbai Municipal Corporation have collected Rs 10,000 to pay my fine. We will not pay the fine and fight the unfair HLEC of JNU. But our solidarity long live! Chhatra, Mazdoor, Kisaan ekta Zinadabad! Thank you Kachra Vahatuk Shramik Sangh (NTUI). We are together in this struggle for dignity and basic human rights,” Mr Kumar tweeted. Last week he had addressed two rallies in Maharashtra that received a good response.

Milind Rande, who leads the KVSS, said, “Kanhaiya spoke about the condition of contract labourers and how they are not getting their minimum wages in his speeches at Mumbai and Pune. The labourers were influenced by him, as he raised their issues and they have collected the funds. Otherwise, the problems of contract labourers are not raised,” he said.