Need to respect freedom of expression: Vidya on Gurmehar Kaur

Mumbai: Actress Vidya Balan says she doesn’t want to add anything more to what is already happening with Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur but feels one must respect others’ freedom of expression.

Lady Sri Ram Ram College student Gurmehar Kaur, daughter of Kargil martyr Captain Mandeep Singh, had launched a viral social media campaign against Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) following violence between members of unions AISA and ABVP workers in Delhi University’s Ramjas College.

Kaur, 20, withdrew from her social media campaign yesterday after allegedly receiving threats from the members of the RSS-backed outfit and getting trolled.

When asked about what she feels regarding the issue, Vidya told reporters, “I don’t want to say much about this. I think what we really need to do is respect people’s freedom of expression. ‘He said something she said something’, all are right in their places. But I don’t want to add anything more, everyone has the right to express what they feel.”

The “Dirty Picture” actress, however, added that violence should not happen and there is no justification for that.

She was speaking at the launch of the book “The Wrong Turn” by Sanjay Chopra and Namita Roy Ghose, last evening.

Last week, Delhi University’s Ramjas College witnessed violence between members of AISA and ABVP workers.

The genesis of the clash was an invite to JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid to address a seminar on Culture of Protests which was withdrawn by the college authorities following opposition by the ABVP.

Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia, who was also present at the event, said it is sad a mountain has been made out of a mole hill.

“She is an innocent girl, she said something and it’s sad all the prominent people are commenting on that. They have made her life difficult. I feel very bad, helpless. If the majority thinks like this I don’t think the nation is moving on the right path.”