Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday (12th August) said that he was associated with Naxalism when he was a student. He was replying to questions from India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma in the ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ show.
Chowdhury was asked “Did you have a history of being a Naxalite? Were you a rebel and dissenter from the very start?” In his response, the Congress leader said, “In the beginning, the Naxalite movement started in West Bengal. At that time, I was a student. I thought that this would be a way to alleviate the suffering and weaknesses of the country’s poor. I wasn’t very mature at that time. I had enthusiasm and anger within me. That’s why I became associated with Naxalism.”
Why did Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary become a Naxalite?
He further said, “I haven’t committed murder, but I have been involved in looting firearms. I have also been in jail. I went to jail for the first time when I was 15 years old. On the day I was sent to jail, it was my sister’s wedding day. I only studied up to the 9th grade in a government school.”
“I am like a soldier. I fight for truth and justice. I have even taken a bullet to my chest, and when required, I have fired bullets as well. Several cases are still pending against me. If I have done something wrong, I should certainly face the consequences. I view jail as a university,” he added. He said that there is a spate of murder cases in Bengal.
When Rajat Sharma asked whether you have actually killed someone, in response, he said that there are 26 cases registered against him. “There are several cases registered involving murder charges. If I had actually killed someone, why would I tell you? If I had committed murder, I wouldn’t be here. In politics, such allegations are made when you protest against the ruling party,” he said.
“In the affidavits submitted before the Election Commission, there are 26 cases against me, out of which 90 per cent have been closed. Even now, if I feel the need, I will continue to protest. When I feel that some injustice is happening somewhere, I won’t step back from it, even if it means facing physical harm, getting shot, or going to jail,” he added.
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is one of the leaders of the Opposition party who has hit the headlines recently. Speaking on the No-Confidence Motion brought by the Opposition recently, Chaudhury used some derogatory words for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which not only had to be expunged but the senior Congress leader was also suspended from the Lok Sabha.
Attacking the BJP government in Parliament, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury responded to some hard-hitting questions from India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma.
During this, Chowdhury answered the questions asked on different issues in detail. Responding to Rajat Sharma’s question, he said that Manipur is a global issue. A bill on this was brought in the French Parliament when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gone to Paris to receive a “big award.” This was also discussed in the United Nations, Chowdhury added.
What Chowdhury said on Manipur issue?
He suggested that a meeting of all parties should be called. “Leaders of all parties including BJP, Congress should go to Manipur together and say that we all are with Manipur. This is how the issue of Manipur can be resolved,” the Congress leader said. In response to another question, Chowdhury also gave advice to people who call Rahul Gandhi “Pappu.” “There is a difference between Rahul Gandhi and the Prime Minister.
When the Prime Minister goes abroad, he needs a teleprompter in which his speech is written, but when Rahul Gandhi goes abroad, he speaks fluently without a teleprompter. He does not need “crutches” like teleprompters,” he said.
He further said Rahul Gandhi is a good, honest and knowledgeable person but many a time his talks are presented in a distorted manner. Responding to Gandhi’s flying kiss row, the Congress leader said that a flying kiss is a sign of love. “If you find fault, you will find fault everywhere,” he added.
