Gurmehar Kaur row: My tweet wasn’t intended to bully anyone, clarifies Virender Sehwag

Former Team India batsman Virender Sehwag, whose tweet trolling DU student Gurmehar Kaur triggered an outrage on social media has clarified that his post was “plain fun” but was misconstrued.

He took it to Twitter and clarified his stand in the row in a series of tweets posted on Wednesday. He said that whether it’s Gurmehar Kaur or the Phogat sisters, everyone has a right to express their views without being bullied or threatened.

“My tweet was an attempt to be facetious rather than one to bully anyone over their opinion. Agreement or disagreement wasn't even a factor,” he said in a tweet.

“Everyone has a right to express their views without being bullied or threatened. Gurmehar Kaur or the Phogat sisters,” he tweeted.

“She has a right to express her views and anyone who threatens her with violence or rape is the lowest form of life.”

Everyone has a right to express their views without being bullied or threatened. Gurmehar Kaur or the Phogat sisters.

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 1, 2017

She has a right to express her views and anyone who threatens her with violence or rape is the lowest form of life.

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 1, 2017

My tweet was an attempt to be facetious rather than one to bully anyone over their opinion. Agreement or disagreement wasn't even a factor.

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 1, 2017

ALSO READ | Gautam Gambhir's powerful video-message bats for Gurmehar Kaur, blasts those mocking her 'freedom of speech'

Kaur, 20, the daughter of army martyr Captain Mandeep Singh and a student of Lady Sri Ram College, had started the campaign following the violence at Ramjas College.

It received massive support from students across various universities.

Gurmehar Kaur, 20, became the centre of a controversy after launching a social media campaign against ABVP and withdrawing the protest after alleged rape threats and virulent social media backlash. 

Kaur is the daughter of Capt. Mandeep Singh who was killed in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on August 6, 1999, four days after Pakistani troops withdrew from Kargil.

As the controversy grew, Kaur pulled out her campaign and left for Jalandhar to be with her family, requesting that she should to be “left alone”.

In a series of tweets, Kaur announced her decision saying she has been through a lot and “this is all my 20 year self could take (sic)”.Kaur earlier urged people not to identify her as a “martyr’s daughter” if that bothers them.

(With inputs from PTI)