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Gurmehar Kaur triggers a political slugfest

Leaders take sides on ‘nationalism’ debate, turn to social media to vent ire

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The political slugfest over Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur continued on Wednesday with more leaders taking sides on the ‘nationalism’ debate.

While Haryana’s outspoken minister Anil Vij said that those supporting Kaur’s campaign against the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were pro-Pakistan and should be thrown out of the country, Congress demanded resignation of Union Minister of State for Home, Kiran Rijiju. “Gurmehar Kaur is not only a daughter of Punjab but a proud daughter of India. Kiren Rijiju’s job is to protect her as government should protect a martyr’s daughter.

Instead, he has questioned her credentials, which is very unfortunate. If Kiren Rijiju has any iota of shame left, he should immediately tender his resignation,” Congress leader Manpreet Badal said at an official news briefing.

Even as many Central ministers tried to wriggle the government out of the controversy, denying any clampdown on freedom of speech, Haryana Minister Vij stoked controversy further by blaming the young student for trying to do politics over her father’s martyrdom. 

He further said, “Pakistan, ever since its inception, has been fighting direct or proxy wars with India. And a martyr’s daughter is giving clean chit to Pakistan, it is not appropriate. Such people have no right to live here and should be thrown out of the country.” Vij added that those who are supporting Gurmehar Kaur too are pro-Pakistan and should be thrown out of the country.

Lamenting at such statements, the Congress leader said it is a result of the polluted mindset and ideology that is dividing the country. “It is this government which is dividing the country. I demand the MoS’s resignation,” said Badal.

The Congress seems to have deliberately fielded Badal, a senior leader from Punjab. Badal said the behaviour of the ABVP is an insult to the armed forces, to the martyrs, and to the culture of India. He said Punjab has a centuries-old tradition of defending the culture of India and this is an “attack on a daughter of Punjab”. 

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