If Kanhaiya Kumar wins, it would be a victory for democracy, actor Swara Bhaskar, one of the most vocal critics of the central government in Bollywood, said on Tuesday.
On her birthday on Tuesday, actress Swara Bhasker flew to Patna to lend support to CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar by campaigning for him in Begusarai.
Swara wanted to be by Kanhaiya's side when he files his nomination papers for the Begusarai Lok Sabha seat.
— Kanhaiya Kumar (@kanhaiyakumar) April 9, 2019
"It is a rather unusual way of spending one's birthday. But Kanhaiya is a friend and I think he is fighting an important battle on behalf of us all. If he wins, it will be a victory for Indian democracy," Swara said in a statement.
"I've never been part of a political campaign before so I literally have no idea what to expect," added the actress, who has been vocal about her socio-political stance.
अम्मा फ़ातिमा नफ़ीस, जिग्नेश, शेहला, गुरमेहर समेत उन तमाम साथियों का शुक्रिया जो संविधान और लोकतंत्र को बचाने के संघर्ष को मज़बूत करने के लिए बेगूसराय आए हैं। जहाँ देखो वहाँ हमारे साथी लाल झंडों के साथ नज़र आ रहे हैं। एकजुटता का ऐसा भव्य नज़ारा सबमें जोश भर रहा है। pic.twitter.com/0lkW4FAFF9
— Kanhaiya Kumar (@kanhaiyakumar) April 9, 2019
Swara said she feels "aligned to Kanhaiya's views as a rational and patriotic citizen of the country".
"Kanhaiya raises issues that concern all Indians -- issues like the threat to the Constitutional values and to the Constitution of India, unemployment, the rise of mob violence, the need for social justice and the need to focus on issues that will better the lives of all Indians. I think as responsible and patriotic Indians we should all feel aligned to this ideology/or thought process."
राष्ट्रकवि दिनकर की धरती नफ़रत फैलाकर सियासत करने वालों को कभी पनपने नहीं देगी। उन्हीं के शब्दों में - "जब तक मनुज-मनुज का यह / सुख भाग नहीं सम होगा / शमित न होगा कोलाहल / संघर्ष नहीं कम होगा।" pic.twitter.com/KgRuPWUCxX
— Kanhaiya Kumar (@kanhaiyakumar) April 9, 2019
Talking about her birthday memories, she said: "My most memorable birthday was in 2012 on the sets of 'Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai'. The producers made sure that I had a very special day.. I think I cut some eight cakes that day and we had a rocking party that night."
The student leader recently appealed to the masses to fund his election campaign. His request reportedly was responded to with generous contributions.
The fiery former JNU student, fighting his first ever public election, faces a formidable opponent in Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who was first reluctant to contest in Begusarai, but later relented.
आज बेगूसराय की जनता ने मोदी सरकार के लूटतंत्र और भीड़तंत्र के ख़िलाफ़ अपना नामांकन कर दिया है। नफ़रतें हारेंगी, एकता जीतेगी। pic.twitter.com/U5vdmDiolz
— Kanhaiya Kumar (@kanhaiyakumar) April 9, 2019
Kanhaiya Kumar, 32, was arrested in February 2016 under sedition law, allegedly for doing nothing to prevent the raising of anti-India slogans on the JNU campus.
A Delhi court on Monday adjourned the hearing in the case till July 23, while giving more time to the Delhi Government to decide on the issue of granting sanction or not.
On the professional front, the actress says she is busy with projects for her production venture Kahaaniwaaley.
"I'm also finishing writing a script which I hope will go on the floors this year. So that's a target of acting in two films this year," she added.