10-Y-O 'so-called baba' Abhinav Arora claims threat from Lawrence Bishnoi, sparks online mockery
NDTV draws flak for 'PR' coverage
Mathura: The family of 10-year-old influencer Abhinav Arora recently claimed he received a life threat from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, but the news has sparked a wave of humour and disbelief online. NDTV, which reported on the claim, has also come under fire, with users criticising the network for giving unnecessary publicity to the young “spiritual orator” and his family’s allegations.
Social media users on X (formerly Twitter) responded with scepticism, with many questioning both the validity of the threat and NDTV’s coverage. Comments ranged from humorous to critical, with one user stating, “150 crore population me se 100 crore logon ko Bishnoi ne dhamki de rakhi hai,” while another remarked, “Is it because he is not going to school?” Some saw it as a publicity ploy, saying, “In religion business, playing the victim is the best option to gain followers.”
Other humorous responses continued to pile on, with comments such as, “Pure publicity stunt to gain sympathy,” and “Lawrence Bishnoi bhi chahta hai ki jaldi se school mein admission ho iska.” Another user sarcastically requested, “Dear #LawrenceBishnoi, can you threaten me too, please… I beg you.”
Another user jabbed at NDTV, writing, “NDTV calling Abhinav Arora an ‘Orator’—even they’re contributing to this PR circus.” The responses didn’t stop there and comments like “Publicity ke liye aur koi raasta nahi tha kya?” added to the sceptical backlash.
The family also referenced a 2023 viral video showing Abhinav being scolded by Swami Rambhadracharya, though Abhinav claimed the Swami later blessed him. However social media users were unconvinced and showed no sympathy. One sarcastic comment suggested, “Spiritual Orator should be replaced with Spiritual Clown,” while others questioned the entire episode as a “publicity stunt.”
Comments like, “In Modiji’s Amrit Kaal, even Sanatanis aren't safe,” and “Publicity ke liye aur koi raasta nahi tha?” highlighted the scepticism surrounding the claims by Abhinav.
NDTV’s coverage of the story has become part of the narrative, with many criticising the network for adding fuel to the publicity push.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
