Student leader Kanhaiya Kumar and GujaratDalit leader Jignesh Mevani are set to join the Congress today. Congressgeneral secretary (organization) KC Venugopal and Gujarat Congress workingpresident Hardik Patel are also likely to be present when Kumar and Mevani jointhe Congress. Rahul Gandhi is likely to be present with them at ITO.
Here are some details about Jignesh Mevani:
· JigneshMevani (alternatively Mewani; born 11 December 1980) is a lawyer-activist and former journalist serving as the representative of the Vadgamconstituency in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He is anindependent legislator and the convener of the Rashtriya Dalit AdhikarManch.
· Hailingfrom a Dalit family, Mevani is perceived as a leader for Dalit rights. Hespearheaded the protest march called Dalit Asmita Yatra from Ahmedabad to Unafollowing the deadly attack on Dalit men in Una village by so-called “GauRakshaks.” The march culminated with 20,000 Dalits attending the protest,including a Dalit woman, who vowed to give up jobs of removing cow carcasses.
· Askillful orator with degrees in English and law, Mevani quotes revolutionarysocialist Karl Marx and Ambedkar in one sentence, while rattling out facts andfigures from the right to information (RTI) petitions and court cases he hasfiled.
· Mevani’sexpertise on Dalit issues and oratorical skills are drawing huge crowdswherever he travels, making speeches and talking to people.
· Mevanihas also worked with Bharatsinh Zala, an RTI activist who has campaigned onfarmer suicides in the state. He also joined noted late Gandhian ChunibhaiVaidya who fought for farmers’ rights and accompanied him to many ruralareas.
· InApril 2021, Mevani raised the issue of postponement of offline secondary and highersecondary boards examination in Gujarat, stating that Central Boardof Secondary Education has cancelled its offline examinations but theeducation department is continuing it and risking the lives of students
· Thereis speculation that Congress could give Kumar a role in Bihar state Congressand Mevani in Gujarat, which will go for polls by the end of next year.