Those backing Gurmehar pro-Pak, should be thrown out of India: Haryana minister

Chandigarh: In what may spark off another controversy, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Haryana's Health Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday branded people supporting Captain Mandeep Singh's daughter Gurmehar Kaur as 'pro-Pakistan'.

"Those supporting Gurmehar Kaur are pro-Pakistan and therefore, such people should be thrown out of the country," Vij told ANI.

Contrary to Vij's remark, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad yesterday came out in defence of Kaur, saying people who are politicising the issue are misusing freedom of speech.

"Gurmehar Kaur is a martyr's daughter and we should respect this fact. Those who are politicising the matter, I want to ask a question from them as what they have to say about her father who was killed by terrorists?" Prasad said.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju alleged that Leftists were misleading the youth, and added, that Kaur is the daughter of a Kargil martyr whose soul must be weeping on seeing his daughter being misguided by those who celebrate over the bodies of martyrs.

"She ( Gurmehar Kaur ) is a young girl, creating controversy over her isn't right. It is about Leftists who celebrate when our jawans die. They mislead the youth and it is not right," Rijiju told media.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge defended Kaur, saying she is being portrayed as if she was under someone's influence.

Earlier, Kaur's grandfather, Kanwaljeet Singh lashed out at politicians saying they should refrain from giving out any statement.

"Drama is being created which shouldn't be highlighted. Politicians must refrain from giving statements," Kanwaljeet told ANI.

Kaur, who is a Delhi University student, invited a wrath by posting a message against the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on social media.

Kaur also visited the Delhi Commission for Women alleging that she received rape threats on social media for posting the message.

The Delhi Police also filed an FIR against the rape threat to Kaur.

The entire controversy gained momentum after last week's clash that erupted between Left-affiliated All India Students Association (AISA) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) backed ABVP over cancellation of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid's talk at Delhi University's Ramjas College.