Kargil martyr’s daughter Gurmehar Kaur withdraws from campaign against ABVP

Hundreds of students and teachers of Delhi University, JNU and Jamia hit the streets with a call to “save” the varsities from the “onslaught” of ABVP and “curbing” of dissent. ABVP is the students’ body which is backed by the RSS. Both students of Delhi University and Aman Sinha of JNU, associated with All India Students Association got into a fight on social media with heated arguments.

The ABVP members, who have termed its protest #SaveDU, the same as the Ramjas protests, gathered outside the Arts faculty, and waved a giant tricolour, reported Indian Express.

The large-scale participation of Delhi University students, said to be largest in recent times, was remarkable given that the institution is not known for volatile students activism like the Jawaharlal Nehru University, whose students also added their voice at the march besides many eminent academicians and scholars of other colleges. Raising slogans, the protestors said it is a silent march in an attempt to bring back peace within the educational institution.

Cricketer Gautam Gambhir today came out in support of DU student Gurmehar Kaur, who is in the eye of a storm over free speech, even as Virender Sehwag defended himself after facing a backlash for ridiculing her.

One of her friends has said that she is scared and therefore has no option but to leave Delhi. I am not afraid of ABVP. She is so depressed with the media blow-up of her tweet that she is now pleading to be left alone. She has now been provided security by two women constables of the Punjab Police in Jalandhar.

Kaur was also trolled online for a video that she had posted nearly a year ago. However, Sehwag clarified that he did not want to bully anyone.

AISA and NSUI have blamed ABVP for the February 22 violence at Ramjas College where many students and professors were injured.

2 students are suspended from Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, for violating the outfit’s chastisement and participating in violence. They had allegedly raised anti-India slogans at an event organised on the campus in the memory of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Meanwhile, teachers at Lady Shri Ram College have voiced their support for Kaur, Firstpost reported.

Confirming the development, Dependra Pathak, special commissioner of police (southwest range) and Delhi Police spokesperson said crime branch officials have started the investigation into where the abusive threats could have been generated.