Gurmehar Kaur responds to Rijiju’s remark: ‘Nobody is polluting my mind, I am not anti-national’

Earlier in the day, replying to a video by Kaur, who recently started the campaign “Not Afraid of ABVP”, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said a strong army prevents war. Kaur, daughter of war Captain Mandeep Singh, last year made a video asking India and Pakistan to amicably settle their disputes.

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She held a placard saying “Pakistan did not kill my dad, war killed him.” Asking who is “polluting” her mind, Rijiju took to Twitter saying “India never attacked anyone but a weak India was always invaded”.

Kiren Rijiju (File Photo)

He later tweeted again saying freedom of expression is not a licence to shout anti-national slogans in campuses. “Criticise the government but don’t abuse the motherland,” he wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, the BJP slammed the opposition on Monday for inciting violence on campuses, adding that freedom of speech doesn’t mean the right to offend.

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Speaking at a press conference held earlier today in New Delhi, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu attacked the opposition parties for creating social tensions in the country. Hitting out at the Congress for subverting people’s rights, Naidu said Congress, which has no respect for constitutional rights, had imposed Emergency, and now they talk of freedom of speech.

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“Congress subverted people’s rights and now they accuses us saying there’s no freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is guaranteed under the Constitution of India, but it can’t be used to create social tensions or hurt the sentiments of people,” said Naidu.