Activist flags public bias over Team India’s Siddhivinayak visit and Jemimah’s ‘Thank Jesus’
Darshan Mondkar’s post reignites debate on unequal reactions to public expression of faith
New Delhi: A social media post by activist Darshan Mondkar has sparked a debate over perceived double standards in how the public reacts to expressions of faith by members of India’s national women’s cricket team, particularly during their historic World Cup-winning campaign.
Mondkar’s post drew a comparison between two recent events. The first involved cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues, who, after her match-winning performance in the semi-final, publicly “thanked Jesus.” The activist noted that this simple expression of faith led to “a lot of hue and cry,” with Rodrigues reportedly facing trolling not only from certain right-wing social media users but also criticism from some self-described liberals.
In contrast, Mondkar highlighted that when members of the women’s team visited Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple to “seek Bappa’s blessings ahead of the World Cup final,” the gesture was met with widespread appreciation and no apparent backlash.
“Any objections anyone? Any trolling?” Mondkar asked rhetorically in his post, pointing to what he described as a glaring inconsistency in public attitudes. He ended his message with a tongue-in-cheek remark: “I don’t care who they are thanking and who they are praying to, as long as they work hard and win the games and give credit to ModiZee 😝😝😝.”
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.
Watch: Tusker rescued from 20-foot well in Sullia after 16-hour operation
_vb_90.jpeg)
Mangaluru (PTI): A lone tusker that had fallen into an abandoned 20-foot-deep well in Dakshina Kannada district was successfully rescued after forest officials constructed an earthen ramp, allowing the animal to walk out safely, officials said.
The incident occurred when the elephant, aged about 30 years and roaming in the forested Sampaje range of Sullia taluk in the Western Ghats, accidentally fell into the well in the early hours of Monday and was rescued at around 4 pm the same day, they said.
Initially, when the operation began, officials suspected it was a calf. But midway through the rescue, as it made its way out, they realised it was actually an elephant.
The animal remained trapped inside the well for nearly 16 hours before being rescued, officials added.
Huge relief, the elephant is out of the well.
— Harish Upadhya (@harishupadhya) April 13, 2026
The animal has moved into nearby plantations instead of heading back to the forest. Forest teams remain on high alert.#ElephantRescue #Karnataka https://t.co/ZCLU6COXTv pic.twitter.com/begPVx1oki
According to officials, acting swiftly, the Karnataka Forest Department created a gradual ramp from the bottom of the well to ground level using earth-moving equipment, ensuring a safe exit path for the animal.
After spending about 16 hours inside the well, the elephant walked out safely using the ramp and disappeared into the nearby forest, officials said.
A wild elephant trapped in a well in Peraje, Sullia. Rescue underway. Forest officials on-site for hours, digging to bring the animal out safely. Prayers for the gentle giant. #elephants #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/GZ7yp7pA8q
— Harish Upadhya (@harishupadhya) April 13, 2026
Forest department officials told PTI that the tusker did not sustain any injuries despite the fall and remained healthy and alert throughout the operation.
They monitored the animal as it climbed the ramp and returned to its natural habitat.
The timely intervention prevented any harm to the elephant and highlighted the swift response of the forest team in wildlife rescue operations in the Western Ghats region, which is known for human-elephant conflict incidents.
_vb_72.jpeg)
_vb_35.jpeg)
_vb_44.jpeg)