“I’m withdrawing from the campaign. Congratulations..tweeted Gurmehar Kaur
NEW DELHI : Gurmehar Kaur, the Delhi University student who alleged rape threats over her social media campaign against the student group ABVP, pulled out of a march today against campus violence.
In a series of tweets, the 20-year-old also appealed to others to join the “Save DU” march at the Delhi University campus by students and teachers in huge numbers. “To anyone questioning my courage and bravery. I’ve shown more than enough,” she wrote.
“I’m withdrawing from the campaign. Congratulations everyone. I request to be left alone. I said what I had to say”, the student of Delhi’s Lady Sri Ram College said.
“I have been through a lot and this is all my 20 year self could take :). The campaign is about students and not about me. Please go to the March in huge numbers. Best of luck,” Kaur said.
“To anyone questioning my courage and bravery…I’ve shown more than enough. One thing is for sure, next time we will think twice before resorting to violence or threats and that’s all this was about,” she added.
Ms Kaur was given police protection yesterday after she was trolled with tweets threatening rape over her Facebook post against ABVP or Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the BJP-linked student group accused of setting off violent clashes at Ramjas College over an invitation to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid. The ABVP charged the college with “anti-national activities” because Umar Khalid was accused of sedition last year.
The daughter of a soldier who was killed in 1999, Ms Kaur has also been targeted afresh for a video post last year in which she appealed for peace between India and Pakistan through placards with messages. One of the placards said, “Pakistan did not kill my dad, war killed him.”
Union minister Kiren Rijiju, former cricketer Virender Sehwag and actor Randeep Hooda were among those who appeared to counter Ms Kaur with their tweets.Mr Rijiju, the Minister of State for Home, tweeted, “Who’s polluting this young girl’s mind? A strong Arm Force prevents a war. India never attacked anyone but a weak India was always invaded.”
Another lawmaker of the ruling BJP, Pratap Simha, compared Gurmehar to terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.
