Mumbai (The Hindu): The Shiv Sena, on Monday, used the row around the arrest and subsequent release of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar to make digs at its alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamna said: “These days nothing comes for free in our country including any small thing. This government has even taxed the Provident Fund of labourers and workers. In other words, this government is taxing the sweat of the working class to claim that nothing comes for free. Even the media echoes a similar line. But government must take a serious note when a person like Kanhaiya, who was arrested for sedition, gets free publicity.”

The editorial continued, “Despite so much of noise over the JNU issue, this man comes out of jail in 10-15 days and beat the government at its own game. How did it happen?” Attacking BJP activists who had labelled the students as anti-national or anti-government and those who had allegedly announced bounties to anyone who would cut off Mr Kumar’s tongue, or even behead him, the Sena said that these people were the reason why he had become a hero. “It seems Kanhaiya has created a challenge of free publicity. It is free even though food, medicine and water has become costly.”

The Sena also attacked the BJP over pre-poll promises, saying that winning elections had become the only aim these days. “All promises and dreams before elections went in vain after victory, and farmers, labourers, workers and students face disillusionment. If such negativity in the youngsters goes on increasing, such ‘blasts’ in India will go on increasing, no matter whether Pakistanis enter or not.”