Express Interview | Student activist Neha Bora on Naxalism, Umar Khalid and her ‘condition’ to fight polls

Neha Bora, national president of the All India Students Association (AISA), spoke to The Indian Express about Naxalism, Umar Khalid, and her willingness to participate in elections. The Jantar Mantar protests in Delhi were described as "leaderless," but Bora emphasized that they were deeply political. She expressed her support for collaboration with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) as long as they worked for the people.

Bora also touched upon the political culture at JNU, the Left's declining electoral performance, and the Naxalbari movement. When asked about the March on August 7, Bora explained that it was held before the original date and that the BJP-RSS was absent from the protests. She defended the "leaderless" movement and its political nature, stating that being united on common agendas and having one's place in the world was essential.

Bora highlighted the evolution of protest movements and their influence from previous movements like anti-CAA and farmers' agitations. She admitted to being ambitious in her political imagination, but emphasized that electoral ambitions are intertwined with broader struggles. Bora also addressed critics who view student politics as a training ground for political careers, pointing to her past involvement in various movements and her work in trade unions and women's organizations.