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While joining the party Thursday (Apr 25) in the presence of BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, Kashyap said his mother asked him to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party.
Famous Indian YouTuber journalist Manish Kashyap, who was jailed by an opposition-ruled state last year for allegedly circulating fake videos, has joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While joining the party Thursday (Apr 25) in the presence of BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, Kashyap said his mother asked him to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party.
“Yesterday we came from Bihar to Delhi with Manoj Tiwari. It was because of them (Manoj Tiwari, BJP) that I could come out of jail. So I have joined the BJP. My mother is a fan of Narendra Modi,” Kashyap said.
“Only BJP could have given this honour to the son of a poor family…There are a few parties in Bihar that don’t let you even join if you don’t approach with full (of cash) suitcases. BJP respects the poor, women, a YouTuber, a mother. So, BJP is a different party and that is why it has emerged as the biggest capable party in the world…I will keep working for nationalism as I have always done. When I used to do it earlier, a few parties used to frame me and jail me. A lot of BJP leaders supported me…If I am safely out of jail today, it is due to the blessings of my mother and thesupport of BJP leaders,” Manish said as quoted by news agency ANI.
Who is Manish Kashyap?
Kashyap is very popular among those interested in the politics of the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Kashyap hails from Bettiah in Bihar and his real name is Tripurari Kumar Tiwari.
He became famous for his assertive journalism, where he would go to senior government officers and take them to cleaners for not doing their duties diligently.
His YouTube channel, under the name of ‘Manish Kasyap Son of Bihar’ has over 8.75 million subscribers.
Kashyap is an engineer by profession. He contested elections earlier in 2020 from the Chanpatia Assembly seat of Bihar but stood defeated.
Manish was arrested in March 2023 by the government of Bihar for allegedly circulating fake videos of Bihar migrants being beaten up in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
After his arrest, Manish was then shifted to Tamil Nadu, another opposition-ruled state. He walked out of jail in December 2023.
Manish was accused of fuelling tensions between Tamil Nadu and Bihar, even as Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin urged people not to believe the rumours.
Several cases, including the draconian National Security Act (NSA), were filed against Kashyap. He surrendered before the police after being at large for some time.
“NSA was slapped on me but now I have not only been granted bail but all charges are cleared now. NSA is also withdrawn…my fight against those who defame Sanatan will continue,” Kashyap told reporters.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Vikrant Singh
Geopolitical writer at WION, follows Indian foreign policy and world politics, a truth seeker.