Early today, Gurmehar Kaur tweeted out stating that she is withdrawing from the protest against violence in the Ramjas campus on February 21 and 22. The 20-year-old student from Lady Shri Ram College (LSR), Delhi University (DU), also explained her decision on Facebook and emphasised that the campaign must not be centred on her but on students protesting against violence.

Faculty members of LSR, which is not affiliated to Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU), also came out in support of Kaur.

“We, the faculty members of the English Department, Lady Shri Ram College unequivocally and strongly support our student Gurmehar Kaur and her right to express her opinion on issues that embroil our university. It is immensely gratifying to us as her teachers that she has responded sensitively, creatively and bravely to events in her immediate context rather than seek the safe refuge of silence. We feel that it is the bounden duty of educational institutions to nurture sensitive, responsive and critical thinking students without the fear of violent retaliation. We are proud that Gurmehar has fulfilled her duty as a young citizen of this country. The threats of violence and brutality that she faces are absolutely reprehensible. Responses on social media by public figures such as Virender Sehwag and Randeep Hooda are shameful trivialization of the intimidation that Gurmehar faces at the hands of violent mobs whose viciousness the university has recently witnessed. We fervently appeal to the good sense of the public and to institutions of redressal to help restore our faith in law and justice in our country and let our young citizens think and articulate without fear of intimidation.”

It is instructive to note here that Kaur was subjected to a vile line of questioning on primetime television last night. India Policy Founder and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue Rakesh Sinha accused Kaur of “trolling” her father and using his death on India Today. Earlier this week, she was also subjected to rape threats for registering her protests against Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Under the circumstance, it comes as no surprise that Kaur has asked to be left alone.