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Gurmehar Kaur (24), a Delhi University student, met DCW chief Swati Maliwal and claimed that she has been receiving rape threats on social media allegedly by ABVP members.
Kaur, daughter of Kargil martyr Captain Mandeep Singh, started the campaign “I am not afraid of ABVP” following violence at Ramjas college which went viral and received massive support from students across universities.
Maliwal, who termed the act “shameful”, wrote to Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik demanding that an FIR be registered against the “abusers” and security be provided to the girl and her family.
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“Considering the gravity of the situation and the threats received, it is recommended that the girl and her family be provided police protection and an FIR be immediately registered against the abusers,” Maliwal said in the letter.
“It is highly unfortunate and shameful that a strong and independent young girl is being threatened and abused for taking a stand against hooligans. It is deeply perturbing that the threats appear to have silent support of some celebrities and leaders as well,” she added.
Kaur had last week changed her Facebook profile picture to one in which she was holding a placard reading, “I am a student from Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of India is with me. #StudentsAgainstABVP.”
Her classmates and peers started sharing the post, prompting students from various varsities across the country to change their profile pictures with similar placards. However, some criticised the literature student’s remarks, including former cricketer Virender Sehwag and Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda who called her a “political pawn”.
Responding to the critics, Kaur told PTI, “I’m really disappointed with the statements about my campaign especially from the ‘famous’ people who are questioning my nationalism. Two things I want to clarify is that they don’t understand my idea of patriotism and this student campaign is not a political movement”.
“It is about students and our campuses being safe from violent threats and it doesn’t matter what organisation it comes from. Nobody can threaten rape to any one. No matter where he comes from and what his background is,” she added.
Ramjas college had last week witnessed large-scale violence between members of the AISA and the ABVP. 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.
The DCW had last week also ordered an inquiry into the alleged attacks on women by policemen during violence and issued a notice to the Delhi Police.