Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule on Tuesday condemned the rape threats given to 20-year old Gurmehar Kaur, who had voiced her opinion against the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) after its alleged attack on students and teachers of Delhi University’s Ramjas College last week.
Ms. Sule said, “The constitution has given right to every Indian citizen to say what he or she wants. Whether the statement is right or wrong, that is a different story, but the person has a right to speak.”
Ms. Sule also said Ms. Kaur is the daughter of a martyr and should be given the respect she deserves. “No one can threaten or intimidate her for speaking [her mind]. This is a democracy and everyone has the freedom to express [themselves].”
The Congress, too, slammed those who threatened Ms. Kaur. The party’s spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, “Ever since Narendra Modi-led Central government took over the reigns of the country, the ABVP has been let lose in different schools and colleges. The organisation is beating up students and, unfortunately, the government is supporting them. The ABVP is working towards snatching away the intellectual freedom of students, which we completely oppose.”
