“I am a student of Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of India is with me #StudentsAgainstABVP.”
The incident
Yet again, freedom of speech was violently hushed and opinions were mercilessly ridiculed as social media became the arena for the drama to unfold after the recent incident of goonism. Delhi University’s Ramjas College was at the receiving end of the aggression from the student wing of Bhartiya Janta Party’s - ABVP who violently harassed students, faculty and journalists of this Institute.
The clash rooted from the decision of the Institute to invite JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid to address their seminar on ‘Culture of Protests,’ which later was withdrawn by college authorities followed by the revolt of ABVP.
The clash of opinions
In all this mess, Indian Army Kargil martyr, Captain Mandeep Singh’s daughter Gurmehar Kaur found her way in the spotlight after she stood up against the incident by changing her Facebook profile picture with a placard reading the above statement.
Battling through this entire scenario, an older video resurfaced on the internet when Kaur had claimed, “Pakistan did not kill my father, war did," which fruited to further digital chaos when people held on to this and took on trolling by creating memes against her.
All she did through this video was share her story of losing her father at the age of 2, solicited for peace to prevail in these neighboring counties instead of war and somewhere "Nationalists" missed the entire point of what this 20 year was trying to make.
Soon drawing into a political turmoil and making it yet again an issue of “proving your patriotism”, celebrities, journalists, and politicians tweeted their opinions on the stand where Virendra Sehwag and Randeep Hooda became the participants of the trolling, coming under the scrutiny of Twitteratis when Hooda retweeted Sehwag’s tweet by laughing on it.
Later, Hooda after being blamed for bullying, shared a long post on Facebook justifying his actions.
Bat me hai Dum !#BharatJaisiJagahNahi pic.twitter.com/BNaO1LBHLH
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 26, 2017
As we mentioned, social media became a spectator where the country was torn apart with a difference in opinion and how.
— Pratap Simha (@mepratap) February 26, 2017
One more for controversy mongering media: via fb pic.twitter.com/oToxv1exqe
— Pratap Simha (@mepratap) February 27, 2017
@mehartweets dont see it as a withdrawal. you have shown courage,m spunk and dignity and made your point. More than.
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) February 28, 2017
Very shameful for democratic India: we can not digest genuine outburst of a young girl @mehartweets and try to torture her publicly. SHAME.
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) February 28, 2017
Dear #ABVP?
Please teach veterans some lessons in Nationalism. What do these guys know about Bharat Ma! How dare they support @mehartweets ? pic.twitter.com/msiAnReKfB— Akash Banerjee (@akashbanerjee) February 28, 2017
What happens to our 'nationalism' when a martyr's daughter is threatened with rape for her views? Or is this dark face of pseudo-patriotism?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) February 27, 2017
Totally disagree with Gurmeher. It was a
war started by Pakistan that killed her father. She can have an opinion. But not be blind to facts.— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) February 27, 2017
The Kargil war was forced on India because of Pakistan's treachery. Can't see why it should be fashionable to run down Indian army. Not ok.
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) February 27, 2017
Surely likes of @virendersehwag @RandeepHooda have right to express their opinion as well. Freedom of speech cannot be a one way street.
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) February 28, 2017
wow, wow, simply wow. A 20 year old has indeed threatened our high and mighty for them to stoop to this level https://t.co/BsXMQPqqWu
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) February 28, 2017
"This country gives you freedom of expression. How dare you live here and consider using the freedom of expression it gives you?" https://t.co/jAA3dbfHJi
— Rohan (@mojorojo) February 28, 2017
AWRITE, good going Sanghi trash! You scared someone into not speaking again! Take the day off and jerk each other off why don't you?
— Rohan (@mojorojo) February 28, 2017
Current update
After initiating a campaign against ABVP on February 22, 2017 with an appeal to the students of DU to huddle together and make college a safer place to be in, recently she backed out from her campaign and shared a series of tweets justifying her decision.
Not only this, but Kaur was recipient of rape threats from ABVP and their supporters.
Clearly, the 20-year old too had to give up on the incessant trolling and social media backlash.
I'm withdrawing from the campaign. Congratulations everyone. I request to be left alone. I said what I had to say.. (1/2)
— Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) February 28, 2017
I have been through a lot and this is all my 20 year self could take :)
— Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) February 28, 2017
The campaign is about students and not
about me. Please go to the March in huge numbers. Best of luck.— Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) February 28, 2017
To anyone questioning my courage and bravery.. I've shown more than enough
— Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) February 28, 2017
One thing is for sure, next time we will think twice before resorting to violence or threats and that's all this was about (2/2)
— Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) February 28, 2017
Please consider this tweet as my request for leave of absence. Can't speak to anyone, anymore. Will speak up on Tuesday #FightBackDU
— Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) February 27, 2017
Statement from Faculty at Lady Shri Ram College pic.twitter.com/YNIyzBh0Bg
— रॉफ़ल इयान बाबू (@iawoolford) February 28, 2017
The saga of this war is still fuming on Twitter as politicians take digs at oppositions and ferry away from the crux, while the country is busy discussing who is national or anti-national.