Fifteen-year-old Ludhiana activist Jhanvi Behal, who has challenged Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar for open debate over freedom of expression, belongs to a middle-class family that claims to have no connection with the BJP, RSS or any political party. Her father Ashwin Behal is a real estate agent, while her mother Nandini Behal is a house wife.
Ashwin said the family had no affiliation with any political party, but his daughter “is impressed by initiatives like Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, Made in India and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiated by Prime Minister Narender Modi”.
Student of Class 10 at DAV Public School in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, Jhanvi is an active member of an NGO Raksha Jyoti Foundation that was initiated by her father around 10 years ago. She joined the NGO in 2010.
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Talking to Hindustan Times, her mother Nandini said her daughter had raised several issues before and taken them to conclusive ends. “She initiated a special drive against female feticide and also made a documentary on it. She has also made a documentary on drug menace in Punjab. It was later shown in various schools and colleges,” she said.
She further said that Jhanvi had also filed writ in Punjab and Haryana high court against adult movies and porn content on social networking sites. She appeared in the court in her school dress. The HC had pronounced judgment in her favour. She has also raised her voice against the matter of road blockade of various organisations. She was honored on January 26 this year in a district level program held in Ludhiana for her contribution in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Ludhiana.
{{/usCountry}}She further said that Jhanvi had also filed writ in Punjab and Haryana high court against adult movies and porn content on social networking sites. She appeared in the court in her school dress. The HC had pronounced judgment in her favour. She has also raised her voice against the matter of road blockade of various organisations. She was honored on January 26 this year in a district level program held in Ludhiana for her contribution in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Ludhiana.
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