Dear Mr Rijiju, Who’s “Polluting” Your Mind Against Gurmehar?

Dear Mr Kiren Rijiju

I have had the opportunity to interact with you, and interview you on a number of topics, on several occasions. I have always found you to be a young and dynamic minister who wants to reform the rotten and corrupt police system in our country.

But I was saddened when I read this tweet from you.

Sir, why did you choose to comment on Gurmehar Kaur’s opinion and ignore the rape threats she was receiving on social media?

As the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, it is your duty to flag it to the police and order a probe into the matter. Why didn’t you? You appeared to be more interested in finding out who was polluting her mind than actually booking those threatening her with rape.

It is hard to believe that you were unaware of the threats, because Twitter users told you about it. Some also requested you to take action.

But you ignored everything and put out another tweet.

Rightly said, Sir. No one has the right to abuse the motherland. But are you really doing justice to your post as a Union Minister?

Is it not your job to take action against hooligans who brazenly threaten someone with rape? Is it not your job to immediately offer her protection? How could you overlook such horrendous tweets? Here are just a few of the abusive tweets she was tagged in.

Thankfully, the cyber law is strict enough to take action against such rowdiness. Moreover, if you had ordered an FIR on time, the culprits would have been behind bars by now.

Delhi Police cyber cell officers have confirmed that tracking down such anti-social elements on Twitter takes about two to three days after an FIR is registered.

Despite your unwillingness, an FIR was registered on Tuesday morning based on the complaint sent by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). This brings us to another set of pertinent questions: Why didn’t Gurmehar file a complaint with the Delhi Police directly? Why did she approach the DCW? Doesn’t she trust the police?

If a lack of trust in the Delhi Police kept Gurmehar from approaching them, then I don’t blame her at all. How can you trust policemen who have been caught on camera, beating up female students at the Ramjas College protest? Some of those cops were suspended, not dismissed.

Why didn’t you tweet then, Sir?

Sir, instead of politicising the issue by making such comments in the media like: “When I say somebody (is polluting her mind), I mean the Leftists”, and supporting those who are trolling Gurmehar over the issue...

...we deserve to see you maintain the dignity of your post. You can start by simply assuring Gurmehar of protection and a swift investigation.

Regards,
Poonam Agarwal,
Reporter for The Quint

Also Read: Viruji, Don’t Silence Gurmehar’s Idealism With Your Words: Tharoor