Ramjas row turns into political battle

New Delhi: A battle broke out between political parties on Monday after Kargil martyr’s daughter Gurmehar Kaur was allegedly threatened by ABVP activists for launching a campaign against violence in the name of nationalism. While the Congress, Left and AAP came out in support of the 24-year-old student, the BJP accused these outfits of trying to give a different “colour” to happenings on some campuses.

The whole controversy erupted when Sri Ram College of Commerce student Gurmehar Kaur started receiving threats, allegedly from ABVP activists, over her social media campaign, promoting free speech and condemning violence in the name of nationalism, which won her massive support and caught the imagination of many young people. In her campaign, she had blasted the ABVP for instigating violence at Ramjas College last week.

“The brutal attack on innocent students by ABVP is very disturbing and should be stopped. It was not an attack on protesters, but an attack on every notion of democracy that is held dear in every Indian’s heart. It is an attack on ideals, morals, freedom and rights of every person born to this nation,” Gurmehar said in a Facebook status.

Extending his open support to the SRCC student, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Against the tyranny of fear, we stand with our students. For every voice raised in anger, intolerance & ignorance, there will be a Gurmehar Kaur.”

While BJP’s Karnataka MP Pratap Simha went to the extent of comparing Gurmehar with gangster Dawood Ibrahim, Union minister Kiren Rijiju suggested her mind was “polluted”. A man, on Facebook, even threatened to rape her. Reacting to this, Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said : “You may not like what the person thinks but...Mindless threats, trolling emanating from people whom the Prime Minister of India follows (sic). This is the worst form of state intimidation and this is not how democracies and democratic countries function.”

Political battle reached its crescendo after Mr Simha tweeted, “At least Dawood did not use the crutches of his father’s name to justify his anti-national stand.” To mock the 24-year-old student, he even posted a photograph showing Dawood with the message, “I didn’t kill people in 1993. Bombs killed them.” Not only this. Mr Rijiju took to Twitter to take a dig at her. “Who’s polluting this young girl’s mind? Strong armed forces prevent a war. India never attacked anyone but a weak India was always invaded.”

Apart from the Congress, the AAP and the CPI(M) also reacted sharply, and demanded “strict action” against those who allegedly threaten to rape the student. Posting a video of her, where she is talking about rape threats being issued to her, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “THIS  is BJP. They will destroy our country.” Everyone must rise against their goondaism (sic).”

“Women are afraid to speak their mind because of rape threats...Strict action against must be taken against those who threatened Gurmehar with rape,” Atishi Marlena, a member of the AAP’s political affairs committee (PAC), said.

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury attributed the alleged threat to “fascistic tendency” of the RSS and its affiliates. He demanded that the central government should ensure protection to life and liberty of individuals. “This is exactly the culture of the RSS and all its organisations. They will not allow any plurality of opinion ...This is a fascistic tendency,” Mr Yechury alleged.

On  Mr Rijiju’s tweet, Ms Marlena said, “Who is polluting whose mind? The ABVP, through social media, is threatening women with rape. The MoS Home should not know what his priorities are when women are receiving such explicit threats.” She said, “The hooliganism which the ABVP and the BJP supporters resort to happens in the real world. But it is also happening in the virtual world. “Sexual abuse against women is very common, women are getting rape threats and those who give such threats are being followed by senior BJP leader.”

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also took to Twitter and said, “Speaking the ‘truth’ is now ‘pollution’. New normal by Modiji’s ministers. No wonder the ABVP now stands for ‘Aao Bhaiya Vidyarthee Peetein’.”

“Rape threat to a 20-year old student and Kargil martyr’s daughter is BJP-ABVP brand of ‘nationalism’. Ghastly and horrific (sic),” he tweeted.

Accusing Congress and the Left of trying to give a “different colour” to happenings on some campuses, Union Minister Venkiah Naidu said :  “I am surprised about the efforts made by the Congress and the Left to give a different colour to the issues that are happening in a few universities saying it is an assault on freedom of expression,”  he told reporters.

The minister claimed certain “misguided” sections were trying to mislead the young population and create social tensions, and hurt the sentiments of the people of India. “Where is the question of not having the freedom of expression? It is guaranteed under the Constitution,” he said.

Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh also lashed out at the ABVP for its rape threat to the DU student who had taken up the cudgels against the student body over the recent violence in Ramjas College. He said that the girl had been receiving
threats of rape and violence following her heroic stand on the Ramjas College incident.  He said the ABVP and its mentors should be ashamed of their abominable behaviour.

“The girl’s father laid down his life for the country during the Kargil war and she is now being victimized for her legitimate act,”  Captain Amarinder said while terming  the alleged ABVP threat as shocking display of total lack of nationalism and patriotism on the part of the student wing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP .