Gurmehar Kaur Hasn't Said Anything Against Nation, Say Army Veterans

New Delhi: The veterans of 1971 Bangladesh war have come out in support of Gurmehar Kaur - the 20-year-old daughter of a soldier who had drawn huge criticism and mockery on social media for her views on student group ABVP. Her remarks that she was even issued rape threats for her views brought her even more criticism. And today the Delhi University student pulled out of the "DU Against Goondagardi (hooliganism)" protest that is being held at the campus, tweeting she has "been though a lot" and this was all that her "20 year self could take".  

Veterans from Ex Servicemen Welfare Association of Punjab's Patiala said the treatment she has received on social media is totally uncalled for.

"This entire debate is unwanted. We must look maturely at all the aspects. The girl is not saying anything against the country or trying to take advantage of (anything). We must respect her views," said Brigadier V S Tejay.

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Ms Kaur is "not using her father's martyrdom to gain fame, she is just putting forward her views," said Col KS Grewal. The treatment she received, added Colonel Tej Pal Singh, was "totally uncalled for" since her fight was "against those trying to curb freedom of speech".

There has been a barrage of allegations on Twitter that Ms Kaur had been using her father's martyrdom to launch herself on a political career. And her tweet saying that her father has been killed by war, not Pakistan, was seen to have drawn flak from celebrities like Virender Sehwag and Randeep Hooda.

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Even Union Minister Kiren Rijiju had tweeted, asking "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.
 
Ms Kaur was given police protection yesterday after she said she had received tweets threatening rape. In her Facebook post, Ms Kaur had posted a photograph of her holding a paper that said she was not afraid of ABVP - the BJP-linked

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student group that has been accused of setting off violent clashes last week at Ramjas College over an invitation to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid. With Umar Khalid being accused of sedition last year, the ABVP has accused Ramjas students, who had extended the invite, of "anti-national activities".