DU violence: Gurmehar Kaur being used as a pawn, says Rijiju

Clashes took place at Delhi University's Ramjas college on February 22 after Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad members forced the cancellation of a seminar and then disrupted a march.

A day after Delhi University student and daughter of a martyr Gurmehar Kaur announced her withdrawal from the anti-ABVP campaign, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that Kaur is a young girl and not seen the world. She is being used as a pawn. He further said that kaur should be left alone as per her wish but hit back at his critics who slammed him for asking who was polluting Gurmehar's mind.

''Gurmehar is a young girl and she should be allowed to speak her mind. When I said somebody is polluting her mind, I meant the Leftists," he said. He further clarified that his comments were aimed at the Leftists and that Gurmehar was free to express her views.

Rijiju had earlier tweeted asking "Who is polluting this 20-year-old DU student Gurmehar Kaur's mind?.

Even, actor Randeep Hooda posted a Tweet alleging that the girl was being used as a "political pawn". Gurmehar was quick to respond to Hooda's tweet and wrote "Political pawn? I can think. I don't support violence perpetuated on students? Is that so wrong."

Gurmehar Kaur, a student of Lady Shri Ram College and daughter of an army officer killed in the Kargil war, launched a social media campaign against the ABVP after the violence in Ramjas College.

Kaur posted a picture on Facebook saying: "I am a student of Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of India is with me."

She then received rape and life threats on social media by some who called her 'anti-national'.

Clashes took place at Delhi University's Ramjas college on February 22 after ABVP members forced the cancellation of a seminar and then disrupted a march.

On Tuesday she was to participate in a protest march but through a series of early morning tweets, she said she wanted to be left alone.

OneIndia News (with inputs from agencies)