‘A LION ROARS ONLY ONCE’

20yearold face of antiABVP agitation says she has had enough, wants to focus on her Masters

She may have become the face of the fight against the ABVP, but 20-year-old Gurmehar Kaur says she isn’t enjoying the limelight. Kaur says she never thought the issue would become political. She says a lion roars only once and she has done her part. She says she is unable to eat properly and is being contacted frequently.

JALANDHAR: Gurmehar Kaur, the face of protests against the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), is back in Jalandhar. She is not enjoying the limelight, which she says has saddened her.

Kaur, 20, who took to social media to express her take on the ABVP after a clash outside Delhi University’s Ramjas College, said she had never imagined that the issue would become political.

“The issue on which I spoke was blown out of proportion. I want to make it clear that I do not want to get into politics,” Kaur said while talking to Hindustan Times.

Refusing to talk about her past, a visibly distraught Kaur said that the incidents that took place on campus pained her but she had never imagined that the issue would take such an ugly turn.

Kaur, a student of DU’s Lady Shri Ram College for women, said: “I just gave my opinion, but things were blown out of proportion after. I had a really bad time. I am not in a state to talk about it anymore. I cannot take it anymore.”

FAMILY, FRIENDS KEEP VISITING

For two days, while the media personnel camped outside Kaur’s House, her family and friends kept visiting her -- all perplexed at the presence of a crowd outside.

One of Kaur’s family friend, on condition of anonymity said, “People have turned this into such a big issue that now everyone is scared to even give a statement. The political parties are the ones that have benefitted the most from the ongoing situation.”

Another relative added, “Her (Gurmehar’s) father was so strong and brave. She has got all his qualities. She should not be troubled by the media or politicians.”

‘MEDIA SPAMMING ME’

Kaur said she was surprised on seeing the photo of her Jalandhar house in newspapers. “It is not acceptable to me that people now will get to see where I stay,” she said.

Explaining her ordeal, Kaur said that she hasn’t even eaten properly in days as people had been bombarding her with messages and phone calls.

“I am done with it (being a part of the agitation). I came here from Delhi so that I could get some rest. But the media followed me even here and has been spamming me. I am not even able to step outside these days,” she said. Kaur has been provided with a lady constable by Jalandhar police for her security.

GLOOM AT A COLOURFUL HOME

A house with a small nursery outside, a huge shelf with books and a number of photographs on the wall evoking nostalgia is usually a sign of a happy house. At Kaur’s place, however, the mood inside was sombre.

The 20-year-old talked to HT in the presence of her sister, mother and a family friend, with her mother occasionally saying that the media should leave her child alone.

WILL WRITE AN ARTICLE

Kaur said she might soon write an article on her experience.

“I might write an article soon on this issue. I love to read and have already written a few books,” she said.

Kaur, who is also a nationallevel tennis player, said she also wanted to thank everyone who supported her throughout.

“I just want to focus on my future for now. I will soon go back to Delhi and look forward to completing my Masters,” she said.