On Monday, Janta Ka Reporter reported how Gurmehar Kaur, the young daughter of Kargil martyr, Capt Mandeep Singh, received several threats of rape from BJP supporters for her decision to oppose the RSS’s student body, ABVP.
India’s right-wing Hindutva brigade also received support from former India cricketer, Virender Sehwag, in hounding the daughter of Capt Mandeep Singh, who died fighting for India in the Kargil war.
In a dig at Gurmehar’s old Facebook video message saying ‘Pakistan did not kill my father, war did,’ Sehwwag posted his own photo with a placard that said, “I didn’t score two triple centuries, my bat did.”
Bat me hai Dum !#BharatJaisiJagahNahi pic.twitter.com/BNaO1LBHLH
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 26, 2017
Sehwag was widely condemned on social media for his ‘cheap’ shot at a vulnerable young girl just because she dared to stand against the violence of the RSS’s student wing ABVP.
His insulting post, however, became very popular among those who preached hatred against anyone being seen even remotely critical of the BJP or its ideological mentor, the RSS.
Among those applauding Sehwag for his tweet was Bollywood actor, Randeep Hooda, who shared the former India cricketer’s post with the ‘clap’ and loud laughter emoticons.
?????? @virendersehwag ???? https://t.co/IcxuewcPMP
— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) February 26, 2017
Hooda and Sehwag may have detected plenty of humour in a young martyr’s daughter’s public hounding, but social media users vehemently disagreed.
Journalist Akash Banerjee, who took Hooda head on on his despicable post, asked the actor if his support for the ABVP was due to his mother’s association with the BJP.
He wrote, “Love the wordplay @RandeepHooda?
Girl stands up against ABVP-she is a political tool being used.
While ur mom being from BJP-is coincidence? (sic)”
Love the wordplay @RandeepHooda?
Girl stands up against ABVP-she is a political tool being used.
While ur mom being from BJP-is coincidence? pic.twitter.com/WzH6LumUf2— The DeshBhakt (@akashbanerjee) February 27, 2017
Although Hooda did not deny his mother’s association with the BJP, he asked why Asha Hooda was being dragged in the latest controversy.
???? Ya drag my mother into this.
— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) February 26, 2017
And the condemnation for Hooda did not stop here. Twitter users have continued to slam him for both his misogyny and bigotry.
Here are some examples:
So when a girl speaks she is being "used"? How patronising (&sexist)to assume @mehartweets doesn't have a mind of her own. But that you do? https://t.co/1NggrZOhz4
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) February 26, 2017
Sad to see that poor boy @RandeepHooda is being used as political pawn and it seems we are all a party to it. pic.twitter.com/pjrMg21F4e
— Scotchy (@scotchism) February 26, 2017
Such a disappointment. Randeep Hooda 🙁
— Vasudha Venugopal (@vasudha_ET) February 26, 2017
Sad, from you, Viru & Randeep, big-hearted stars. Nobody's patriotism needs certificates & hers has stamp of her father's supreme sacrifice https://t.co/6UAc98i2tH
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) February 26, 2017
Is he really the actor i once so admired, who spoke about emancipation of women in haryana. 'Used as a prop' if she speaks her mind ? https://t.co/q7Q7r7j3eE
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) February 26, 2017
Amusing how @RandeepHooda is saying @mehartweets is being used as a "prop". A little fun fact, his mother, Asha Hooda, is from the BJP.
— Prerna Bakshi (@bprerna) February 26, 2017
Those who readily ask us to boycott 'anti national' film stars and their movie .. how about same for @RandeepHooda @virendersehwag
— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) February 27, 2017
so @virendersehwag & @RandeepHooda have political views? curious to know where they stand on the jat reservation stir
— Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal) February 27, 2017
Dont know who @RandeepHooda is,
But he stands with those threatening to rape a martyr's daughter Hope he goes to hell. https://t.co/Dzc1GgoXjs— Preeti Sharma Menon (@PreetiSMenon) February 27, 2017