Netizens slam actor Ajay Devgn for siding with government's narrative on farmers' protest
Bollywood luminary Ajay Devgn's recent social media post celebrating the conferment of the Bharat Ratna upon Dr. MS Swaminathan has triggered a wave of controversy, with netizens questioning the actor's stance in relation to the ongoing farmers' protests.
In his tweet, Devgn lauded Dr. Swaminathan as a visionary leader whose agricultural innovations have significantly impacted the nation.
However, a section of social media users has accused Devgn of tacitly supporting the government's agenda and diverting attention from the farmers' agitation.
Critics argue that the actor's conspicuous silence on the farmers' protests, juxtaposed with his endorsement of the Bharat Ratna for Dr. Swaminathan, implies a certain alignment with the government's narrative.
According to these social media users, Devgn's apparent support for the award is viewed as an attempt to overshadow the farmer protests and project an image of governmental concern for agricultural welfare.
The controversy has ignited a heated online debate, with users expressing varying opinions on the actor's motivations and allegiances. Some defend Devgn's right to applaud the recognition of Dr. Swaminathan's contributions, emphasizing the need to separate the individual's achievements from broader political dynamics. Others, however, argue that the actor's timing and choice of subject inadvertently align him with the government's narrative, which seeks to downplay the gravity of the farmers' concerns.
Absolutely thrilled to hear that Dr. MS Swaminathan Ji is being honored with the Bharat Ratna! A visionary leader whose innovative spirit has truly transformed the landscape of farming in our nation, his contributions to Indian agriculture and farmers' welfare are unparalleled, a… pic.twitter.com/CrwQe4nMzT
— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) February 15, 2024
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
