The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)

Bihar Youtuber, held in Tamil Nadu fake videos case, joins BJP

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

BIHAR YOUTUBER Manish Kashyap, who spent nine months in jail after he was arrested last year for “circulatin­g fake videos” on “attacks on Bihari migrants in Tamil Nadu”, joined the BJP in New Delhi on Thursday.

Out on bail, Kashyap was inducted into the party in the presence of its national media department in- charge Anil Baluni and co- in- charges Sanjay Mayukh and Manoj Tiwari. Kashyap’s mother was also present.

Tiwari said Kashyap’s joining the party was a “pleasant sight”. “He had been tortured by non- BJP government­s for raising issues of public concern. He had been put behind bars in a bid to muzzle his voice,” Tiwari told reporters.

Kashyap said: “We came from Bihar with Manoj Tiwari yesterday ( Wednesday). I could be released from jail only due to them and the bad days of my life ended. So, I joined the BJP.”

He also took a dig at former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad. “We have to strengthen Bihar. Lalu’s family looted and destroyed Bihar. So, I joined the BJP. Together with BJP, I will strengthen Bihar. Allegation­s were levelled against me but the Patna Court not only granted me bail but also acquitted me…,” Kashyap said.

He said his f ight “against those who defame Sanatana” and those who are “against nationalis­m” will continue.”

Kashyap, a resident of West Champaran in Bihar, had surrendere­d in March last year in Bihar after the Tamil Nadu Police and the Economic Offences Unit ( EOU) of Bihar Police lodged separate cases against him for allegedly making and sharing fake videos of Bihar migrants “being attacked” in the southern state.

 ?? PTI ?? BJP leaders Manoj Tiwari and Anil Baluni with Manish Kashyap at the party office in New Delhi on Thursday.
PTI BJP leaders Manoj Tiwari and Anil Baluni with Manish Kashyap at the party office in New Delhi on Thursday.

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