Himanshi Narwal, the wife of Naval officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, made a heartfelt appeal for peace amidst her personal grief. Speaking to the media recently, she said, "There is something else I wish to say. I see hatred growing, directed at Muslims and Kashmiris. We do not want this. We only wish for peace-nothing else." She also demanded that the perpetrators of the attack be brought to justice.
However, Narwal's appeal met with a storm of online abuse, with social media users accusing her of being politically motivated. Many made remarks about her personal life, while others said she must not get her husband's pension. The National Commission for Women stepped in, voicing support for Narwal.
NCW On Himanshi Narwal Trolling
On May 5, the NCW wrote a statement publically voicing support for Narwal. "After Lieutenant Vinay Narwal's death, the way his wife, Himanshi Narwal, is being targeted on social media for a remark is extremely condemnable and unfortunate. Targeting a woman for her opinions or trolling her about her personal life is not acceptable at all," they said in a post on X.
"Any agreement or disagreement must always be expressed decently and within Constitutional boundaries. The National Commission for Women is committed to protecting every woman's respect and dignity," the women's panel said. NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar also made a separate X post in support of Narwal.
Who Are Himanshi, Lt. Vinay Narwal?
Himanshi and Lieutenant Vinay Narwal had got married just days before the fatal terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. The couple was reportedly in Kashmir when 26 tourists, including the naval officer, were killed. Moments after the attack, a photo of Himanshi Narwal kneeling next to her husband's body and crying inconsolably began circulating on social media.
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Himanshi soon became an aching symbol of grief and resilience. Recently, when she was being hounded by the media on the day that would have been her husband's 27th birthday, she urged people to separate collective blame from justice. However, her statement drew backlash on social media, revealing the disturbing tendency to politicise tragedy.
Social media support for Himanshi Narwal
As Himanshi Narwal faced mounting criticism, many social media users, including public figures extended support, condemning the abusers.
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