"Dear Virat... ": Rahul Gandhi On Rape Threats To Kohli's Daughter

Virat Kohli & family face online abuse following India's bad performance at T20 World Cup

Amid reports of online abuse being directed at Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and his family following India’s dull performance at the T20 World Cup, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has lent his support to him.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has asked Virat Kohli to “forgive” those trolling him for India’s performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup.

He said, “Dear Virat, these people are filled with hate because nobody gives them any love. Forgive them”

As the T20 World Cup is being held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Kohli has been facing brutal online abuse following India’s back-to-back defeats in the hands of Pakistan and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has sent a notice to the Delhi Police asking them to take action against the obscene messages targeted at Kohli’s family after taking cognisance of media reports of online rape threats to his 9-month-old daughter Vamika.

Swati Maliwal, the DCW Chairperson, said, “It is learnt that he (Kohli) is being also attacked since he spoke against the incessant trolling of his teammate Md Shami, who was targeted for his religion by online trolls… This is a very serious matter and attracts immediate action.”

For the unversed, Kohli had thrown his weight behind his teammate Shami, who suffered vile abuse after India’s 10-wicket loss to Pakistan in the team’s T20 World Cup opener.

Backing Shami, Kohli had said: “To me, attacking someone over their religion is the most pathetic thing that a human being can do. That’s a very sacred and personal thing to every human being… We stand by him fully. We are backing him 200 percent, and all those who have attacked him can come with more force if they want to. Our brotherhood, our friendship within the team, nothing can be shaken.”

Notably, India is out of the ICC World T20 after suffering heavy defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand. But They still have an outside chance to qualify for the semi-finals but will now need to win all their remaining matches and have to depend on the other results to go their way.