Patna: Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Monday met mathematician and Super 30 founder Anand Kumar at his Jakkanpur residence and said people were targeting him because he belonged to the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC).
Anand is in the news after a public interest litigation was filed in Patna High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into his functioning.
"In solidarity today went to meet noted mathematician and pride of Bihar @Anand_Super_30 at his home. Lately few people under a well planned collaboration trying to malign his image and discredit his struggle as comes from a less privileged extremely backward section of society," Tejashwi tweeted soon after meeting him.
High court advocate Manibhushan Pratap Sengar has claimed in his petition that Anand projected students of other institutes as his own. The petition also alleges that Anand never releases the list of students before the IIT exam so it cannot be verified that those students who have qualified are the same ones who have studied at Super 30.
Speaking in Anand's support, the former deputy chief minister said: "Anand of Super 30 fame comes from the Extremely Backward Classes of the society, who gained fame by mentoring candidates from socially and economically backward sections for the IIT entrance examinations. An onslaught of propaganda is being run in the media influenced by feudal mindset to discredit and defame Anand."
A film is being made on the life of Anand with Hrithik Roshan playing the lead role. Titled Super 30, the film is expected to release later this year. However, of late, reports are coming out against Anand allegedly running a fake institution.
Started in 2002, Super 30 provides free coaching to meritorious students coming from the weaker sections of the society for the IIT entrance examination. The selected students stay with Anand and they also get food for free during their stay.
"Just because people with feudal mindset can't see a successful mentor from Extremely Backward Classes empowering and educating underprivileged and a Bollywood movie being made honouring him. Every Bihari is proud of Anand's achievements and awards. He has brought laurels for the state through his hard work and dedication. Many promising students facing abject poverty have been gifted a new life through his vision, help and timely guidance. Let's stand with him in solidarity," Tejashwi said in another tweet.
Sengar has sought inquiry into the financial activities, assets and transactions of Super 30 and the Ramanujan Institute of Mathematics at Kumhrar, Patna.
