Right-wing Twitter users troll BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia for standing with Arfa Khanum
Bhatia spoke in support of Arfa as she was engaged in war of words with Pakistani cricketer
New Delhi: In the midst of the ongoing ICC cricket world cup, an ‘X’ post by an Indian Journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani criticising the behaviour of the crowds during the ongoing tournament turned into a heated discussion on the micro blogging site, with BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia getting trolled after he hit out at former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria over his remarks at Khanum’s post, on Monday.
The debate kicked off after Arfa on Sunday took to ‘X’ to express that she was “embarrassed and ashamed as an Indian.”
"Deplorable behaviour of many cricket fans during World Cup matches, makes me feel embarrassed & ashamed as an Indian. This petty, insecure & majoritarian approach towards sports which was meant to bring people together, is symbolic of the India Modi-RSS have created in last one decade," Arfa added expressing her dismay.
In the meantime, Danish Kaneria responded to Arfa’s post on the micro blogging site suggesting Arfa to “come to Pakistan.”
In his post the former cricketer wrote, “Come to my country Pakistan if you are feeling ashamed to be an Indian. India doesn't need people like you. I am sure many people in India will be happy to sponsor this trip."
Reacting to Kaneria’s remarks over Sherwani, Bharatiya Janata Party’s National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia took to X and suggested to Danish Kaneria that it would have been better if he could put his own house(Pakistan) in order first. He further added that, “Arfa criticized our country, wrongly so, but our relationship is not defined by the religion we profess but by the country we love, our Bharat. Even when there is very little in common with her, I decide to stand with a fellow Indian over the common faith we both have. This will surely go a long way to show to every citizen that the bond of love for our country should always be stronger than the bond of religion. Never ever dare to trouble a fellow Indian otherwise you will also be thrown out of the arena like the cricket ball. Jai Hind."
Moments after Gaurav’s post was live on the platform, In another post Gaurav slammed Arfa, sharing a photo of her heated debate with the former cricketer, he wrote in Hindi, “There is a saying, Dhobi ka kutta na ghar ka ghat ka.”
He went on, “People like her are so full of venom that they have started getting invites from Pakistan, even the Pakis pronounce that these venomous people don't love Bharat. Deliberate, introspect and ponder who gave them a chance to question your loyalty?”
Simultaneously, netizens started hitting out at the saffron party leader over his remarks on Arfa’s post.
Commenting on Gaurav’s first post where he warned Kaneria, a user @Bhanusingh_ questioned Gaurav of why there was so much love for the one who has problems in India. At the same time, another user @impuni stated that there was still a Samajwadi (Socialist) alive inside him (Gaurav), reflecting on Gaurav’s past association with the Samajwadi party as a spokesperson before joining the BJP in 2017.
Responding to his second post, a user @sunilmisr wrote, “the first line suits on you very well.”
Soon after Gaurav’s post went live on the platform, Kaneria responding to the BJP leader expressed tagging Gaurav Bhatia that the people should be allowed to decide on who would be thrown out of the arena, “You will not decide my fate, By the way, keep reading replies to this tweet. People are welcoming your support to Arfa Khanum. ??"
Netizens largely expressed support for Danish Kaneria on the platform.
“Danish Kaneria has unleashed an online lynch mob on me….,” Arfa Khanum
Arfa taking a serious note of Kaneria’s ‘come to Pakistan’ remark, Arfa asserted that the former Pakistan cricketer had started an online lynch mob on her.
"Danish Kaneria has unleashed an online lynch mob on me and I am trending on Twitter. Sad to see an intl cricketer celebrated by fans from different religions turning into a communal troll. Rest assured, I'm not leaving my country for Pakistan or any other place in the world," Sherwani replied to Kaneria's previous comment.
The heated debate continued as Kaneria responded to Arfa’s “Online lynch mob,” remark stating, “ Lynch' 'mob' 'communal' 'religious' 'troll' 'unleashed'! Don't use these propaganda words for me. Did I talk about communalism in my tweet? No! If you don’t like Pakistan, simply say - 'Danish, I don't like Pakistan'. That's it!"
Continuing the row, Sherwani in another reply asserted that "every word of your tweet was communal".
The Journalist further maintained, "Asking an Indian Muslim to 'go to Pakistan' is as communal and majoritarian as asking a Pakistani Hindu to convert to Islam. It is telling the minority people that you don't belong here or not until you convert to majority religion Got it?," the journalist wrote.
Meanwhile, Kaneria wrote, "I am not talking about conversion, majoritarianism, Hindus, Indian Muslims or religion."
"I am simply talking about your 'loyalty'. Got it? Let's end the debate with a single answer — "Just show me a single tweet in which you praised Bharat and its culture," he added in response.
“This debate ..highlights India’s greatest strength and strategic asset,”
In the meantime, several users showing support for Arfa's post expressed displeasure over Kaneria’s remarks. A user @joydas wrote, “A Pakistani Match Fixer who was banned for life is trolling an Indian Journalist and Indian RW is supporting the Pakistani Spot-fixer. Because the Pakistani the Matchfixer is Hindu and the Indian Journalist is Muslim and for Indian RW, Religion comes before Nation.”
Another user @parthpunter wrote, “Indian right wing in a nutshell: Supporting an ex cricketer who's trolling a journalist only because she's a Muslim. It doesn't matter that the ex-cricketer was banned for life for spot fixing.”
Reacting to the debate Congress leader Gaurav took to ‘X’ and wrote, “This debate for me highlights India’s greatest strength and strategic asset. Our ability to appreciate and defend our pluralism. This is why 1.2 billion people have remained proud and united. Indians will always rise to protect our DNA “unity in diversity’. #MohabbatKiDukan.”
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Rain might have washed it away: Meghalaya minister after 4,000 tonnes of coal go missing
Shillong (PTI): As the Meghalaya High Court pulled up the state government over the disappearance of over 4,000 tonnes of coal, a minister on Monday claimed that heavy rain in the state might have washed it away.
The high court has directed the state government to take action against officials under whose watch the coal went missing.
Speaking to reporters, Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla said, "Meghalaya receives the highest rainfall. You never know... because of rain, the coal might have swept away. Chances are very high."
The high court had on July 25 pulled up the state government over the vanishing of coal from Rajaju and Diengngan villages and instructed it to trace those responsible for lifting the coal illegally.
The minister, however, clarified that he was not trying to justify the disappearance, and admitted there was no conclusive evidence yet to determine whether the loss was due to natural causes or any illegal activity. "I cannot blame just the rain. It could be or it could not be. I really don't have any kind of details," he said.
He asserted that any activity related to coal mining or transportation must be done in accordance with the law and that authorities must ensure illegal practices are curbed.
On allegations of ongoing illegal coal mining and transport in the state, Shylla said concrete evidence was needed to establish such claims and that multiple departments were responsible for monitoring such activities.
"But I believe that our people, if it is for survival, might do it illegally... otherwise nobody wants to do anything that can harm the state," he said.
He expressed optimism that people would abide by the law, especially after the government's announcement of scientific mining.
"We all are happy to welcome it, and we want to see the light of day with this. I believe our people will not do anything that gives the court or law a chance to point fingers at us," he added.
The ban on coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya was imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2014, citing rampant unregulated and unsafe mining practices, especially the controversial 'rat-hole' mining technique prevalent in the state.
The tribunal's order came in the wake of mounting concerns over environmental degradation, water contamination, and frequent fatalities in the hazardous mines, particularly in East Jaintia Hills.
On a separate note, the minister also responded to complaints over the dust and debris caused by the ongoing construction along National Highway 6 in East Jaintia Hills, saying, "I appreciate this government for the initiative. For now, it is difficult, but once everything is completed, we will enjoy the benefits."
