Congress slams PM Modi for joking about suicide note at media conclave
New Delhi: The Congress party has criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his joke about a "suicide note" at a media conclave, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi calling the prime minister "insensitive about suicide."
During the conclave, PM Modi shared a joke about a professor who spotted a spelling mistake in his daughter's suicide note, which prompted reactions from the Congress party, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra calling the prime minister out for his insensitivity.
Vadra said, "Depression and suicide, especially among the youth, is not a laughing matter. This is a tragedy, not a joke." The Congress party also tweeted that the prime minister's joke was insensitive and cited the suicide statistics of the country, with 450 people being forced to commit suicide every day.
Vadra urged the prime minister and his audience to educate themselves better about mental health issues rather than ridiculing them in a morbid and insensitive manner. She said, "The Prime Minister and those laughing heartily at his joke ought to create awareness rather than ridicule mental health issues in this insensitive manner."
हज़ारों परिवार आत्महत्या के कारण अपने बच्चों को खोते हैं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 27, 2023
प्रधानमंत्री को उनका मज़ाक नहीं उड़ाना चाहिए!
Imagine the insensitive disregard for human life by our Prime Minister who needs to crack a joke on suicide!?!?
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) April 27, 2023
Ironically, when this #AnpadhPM makes a sick & cruel joke on a girl's suicide, the nation is expected to laugh! pic.twitter.com/Z3KUurRDTa
Respected PM,
— Priyanka Chaturvedi(@priyankac19) April 27, 2023
I won’t share the triggering video where you cracked a joke on suicide while the audience laughed at the insensitive ‘joke’, however I’d definitely like to remind you that 2021 NCRB data shows that over 1.5 lakh Indians committed suicide, also deaths by suicide… pic.twitter.com/nWysoJSIRL
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.
London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
