Amid threats, Ramachandra Guha deletes beef tweet, says was in poor taste
Bengaluru, Dec 9: Two days after posting a photo of himself eating beef in Goa, noted historian and author Ramachandra Guha Sunday deleted the tweet, saying "it was in poor taste".
A known critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Guha said the controversial tweet was aimed at "flaying" the saffron party's "hypocrisy" on beef, while claiming that he had received threatening calls.
"I have deleted the photo of my lunch in Goa as it was in poor taste," he tweeted.
"I do wish, however, to again highlight the absolute hypocrisy of the BJP in the matter of beef," he said, adding that humans must have the right to eat, dress and fall in love as they choose.
In the now deleted tweet, Guha had shared a picture of himself enjoying beef and wrote-- "After a magical morning in Old Goa we had lunch in Panaji, where-since this is a BJP ruled state-I decided to eat beef in celebration."
Guha also replied to those who mocked him for eating beef despite being a Gandhian.
"Putting myself in the centre of the frame was exhibitionist and in poor taste. I could have made the same points in words, as I have done now," he said.
Earlier in the day, Guha had tweeted that he and his wife had received phone calls threatening them .
"I have received threatening calls from a man calling himself Sanjay from Delhi. He threatened my wife as well as me. This is for the record," he said in his first tweet.
Couple of minutes later, he posted another tweet levelling allegations against R K Yadav.
"This threatening tweet below is from a former official of the Research and Analysis Wing. I would like to place it on record, and will do with every subsequent threat received," Guha said replying to Yadav's post.
Yadav had tweeted, "If a Hindu eating beef & publicise it he is stigma on this religion. One Ramchandra Guha is doing so. He is trying to tease whole of Hindus by this dastardly action of such publicity. Shd be given befitting reply."
Despite repeated attempts, Guha could not be reached for his reaction.
I have deleted the photo of my lunch in Goa as it was in poor taste. I do wish however to again highlight the absolute hypocrisy of the BJP in the matter of beef, and to reiterate my own belief that humans must have the right to eat, dress, and fall in love as they choose.
— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) December 9, 2018
This threatening tweet below is from a former official of the Research and Analysis Wing. I would like to place it on record, and will do with every subsequent threat received. https://t.co/MrG7AVL15U
— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) December 9, 2018
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.
4 children test HIV positive in MP govt hospital; contaminated blood transfusion suspected
Satna/Bhopal (PTI): Four children suffering from thalassemia have tested HIV positive at Satna District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh allegedly due to contaminated blood transfusions, officials said on Tuesday.
The case is four months old and an investigation is underway into it, an official said.
Officials suspect the use of contaminated needles or blood transfusions for the spread of infection to the children.
ALSO READ: 3 Indian students among those injured in Australia’s Bondi Beach attack
MP Health Minister Rajendra Shukla told reporters in Bhopal that he has ordered a probe into the matter and sought a report.
“It is also being investigated whether the blood transfusion took place in other hospitals also or only in the government hospital,” he said.
The affected children, aged between 12 and 15 years, received blood transfusions from the hospital's blood bank, as per an official.
Devendra Patel, in-charge of the blood bank at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, said four children have tested HIV positive and an investigation is underway to determine how they got infected.
"Either an infected needle was used or a blood transfusion occurred. These are the two main reasons I believe. Blood transfusion seems to be the most likely cause," he told PTI Videos.
All these children suffer from thalassemia, and some have received 80 or 100 blood transfusions, he said.
A family member of one of the affected children said that their child was found to be HIV positive during a routine checkup about four months back, and he has been receiving medication, but it had proven to be of no use.
After taking the medication for HIV, the child starts vomiting, feels low and becomes ill, he said.
After the four children were detected with HIV infection, their family members were also tested and the results came out negative, he added.
The Opposition Congress targeted the government over the matter and demanded the resignation of Health Minister Shukla.
Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Congress MLA and former minister Sachin Yadav claimed such incidents were continuously occurring in Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier, a case of toxic cough syrup came to light in Chhindwara, followed by incidents of rat bites at hospitals in Indore and Satna, and now children have been given HIV-infected blood, he said.
"The health minister is unable to manage the department. He should resign. A murder case should be filed against those responsible for the Satna incident," Yadav said.
Senior Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma termed it a failure of the government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government has no connection with ground realities, he charged.
"Somewhere rats are roaming in hospitals, somewhere children are being given HIV-infected blood. Instead of preventing HIV, you are spreading it. Mohan Yadav should wake up from his slumber. Children are the nation's heritage and should be taken care of," he added.
