Damage control

Not everybody in the ruling BJP seems to be backing the ABVP aggression in Delhi University

Not everybody in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be backing the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) aggression in Delhi University — particularly the social media attack by those perceived to be supporters of the Sangh Parivar on a 21-year-old student of Lady Shri Ram College, Gurmeher Kaur. She had supported the right to freedom of speech of her fellow students, which led to a social media backlash. BJP leaders conveyed their views to the party leadership on the matter, particularly how they might be losing the battle of perception among the youth. Senior leaders such as Ravi Shankar Prasad were fielded on Tuesday to bring the temperature down on the controversy, and the ABVP was asked to beat a retreat.