Social networking site Twitter on Monday turned into a battleground of words after cricketer Virendra Sehwag and actor Randeep Hooda apparently mocked Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur who launched an online campaign against the ABVP after the February 22 violence in Delhi University's Ramjas College.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag on Sunday posted his image holding a placard which read "I did not score two triple centuries, my bat did," and said: "Bat me hai Dum! Bharat Jaisi Jagah Nahi (Bat has power! no place like India).
Actor Hooda also supported Sehwag and retweeted a tweet which apparently mocked Gurmehar.
Kaur, a student of Delhi's Lady Sri Ram College, and daughter of Captain Mandeep Singh who died in the Kargil war, made a Facebook post in the wake of the Ramjas violence, with the hashtag #studentsagainstABVP.
She posted a picture of herself holding a placard that said, "I am a student from Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of India is with me." The post went viral with hundreds of shares. She also held a poster, saying 'Pakistan did not kill my dad, war killed him'.
Sehwag's post was a reaction to the reference to the Kargil war.
Hooda said in a tweet: "It was just very witty of Viru to come with "Bat mein Dum". Can't you see the irony? Defuse the situation not add."
He also said that "She (Gurmehar) is being made a pawn."
Kaur, retorted with: "Really sweet of you to encourage the hate I've been receiving. Makes me feel happy that I adored your work :) Pawn? I can think. I don't support violence perpetuated on students? Is that so wrong (sic)."
Hooda, in a reply said, "I agree with you it's is absolutely wrong..have a feeling it's not limited to that in interpretation."
The twitter exchange saw many others jumping in.
A twitter account WoCharLog said sarcastically that "Dawood Ibrahim's father was a CID Officer. Being born to a great man doesn't imply that you inherit his patriotism and values."
Concerned at the social media attacks on Kaur, one twitterati, Amrinder Singh, said: "It's very disappointing that Gurmehar Kaur is seeking support from us and she is not getting the deserved backing."
One, Siraj said in his tweet that "we are with you Gurmehar, people who oppose your views do not understand the basic idea of democratic India."
Salman Abdi defended Kaur in his tweet, saying: "Randeep Hooda is great actor. Virender Sehwag is my hero but Mehar tweets you're right. Any type of violence should not be supported."
In her last tweet, Kaur said: "Please consider this tweet as my request for leave of absence. Can't speak to anyone, anymore. Will speak up on Tuesday #FightBackDU."
After being trolled on Twitter and receiving rape threats, Kaur on Monday approached the Delhi Commission for Women and complained against the online threats she had been receiving ever since she stood up to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).