Prachi Nigam, from UP’s Sitapur, topped her class 10 exams by scoring 98.5%. Some people criticized her facial hair, however, others showed support for the teenager and congratulated her on her performance in the board examination.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress General Secretary came out in support of the UP’s Class 10 Board Exam topper who was trolled mercilessly by the netizens for her facial hair and told ‘not to get disheartened by the trollers as it’s not the appearances but marks that matters’. Other than the Congress leader, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Supremo Mayawati’s nephew and BSP’s National Secretary Akash Anand too extended support to the trollers.
The development came after Prachi Nigam, from Sitapur, who topped her class 10 exams faced social media trolling for her facial hair post-results. Despite scoring 98.5%, Nigam was subjected to cyberbullying and body shaming. Nigam’s academic achievement, which should have been celebrated, yet she endured unnecessary criticism based on her appearance.
However, in such a tough time, Prachi said a call from Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, turned out to be a morale booster for her. “I am thankful to Priyanka Didi for supporting me in the tough times,” said Prachi Nigam, UP’s class 10 topper.
Prachi Nigam’s father Chandra Prakash Nigam, who is a contractor by profession said the Congress leader called him on Saturday evening and told him to boost up his morale of Prachi and not to get upset by the trollers as it’s only the marks that matter. “She also congratulated me for my daughter’s achievement,” he told News18.
He said Priyanka Gandhi’s words turned out to be the biggest support for his daughter who was targeted by the cyberbullies. Besides, Prachi’s father also thanked BSP Supremo Mayawati’s nephew Akash Anand who too extended his support to Prachi. BSP National Coordinator Akash Anand’s post on his ‘X’ account reads, ‘Prachi sister, first of all I heartily congratulate you for topping the Uttar Pradesh Board. On one hand, where the sisters and daughters of the country are making their name and standing on their own feet, it is very sad to see the petty mentality of some people in the society. Prachi, listening to you in this interview has brought tears to my eyes and I am also angry at these vile people. But Prachi, the way you faced them and emerged as a winner, I salute you.”
Anand’s post further reads “Prachi, your talent can never be suppressed by people with negative thinking. I heartily wish you a bright future with many good wishes.”
Prachi was targeted after her photo went viral on social media. The trollers bullied Prachi to the extent that in a statement she said that she wished that she hadn’t topped the exam if she knew that she would be judged by her appearances and not by her achievements.
But later on, Prachi handled the trollers like a pro, stating that those who feel weird about her facial hair can continue trolling as it doesn’t make a difference to her now.