Messi and team forced to fly as roads at home get choked with excited soccer fans
Buenos Aires: With the soccer fans being over-excited about Argentina’s victory in the World Cup, the team’s celebration was disrupted, forcing Lionel Messi and the others to go by helicopter instead of an open-top bus on Tuesday.
When the team bus arrived in the city at 3 am on Tuesday, the fans thronged the vehicle at the airport. Also, as at least 4 million people gathered on the streets, the city trip planned for midday was interrupted.
A video shared on social media shows a fan falling from a bridge on to the bus carrying the soccer team. Another fan is seen falling on the crowd, missing the bus.
Chiqui Tapia, head of the Football Association, apologized to the supporters, saying that they were unable to continue by bus.
Enzo Fernandez, who is a midfielder in the Argentinian team, posted a picture of himself in the helicopter.
A presidential spokesperson confirmed that the soccer players had taken the air route since the fans’ delight and excitement at the team’s victory had jammed the roads. The local television channels broadcast scenes of the people clogging the highway bridges, climbing atop light posts and vehicles, expressing their joy.
In addition, Alberto Fernandez, President of Argentina, declared a national holiday for celebrations over the World Cup victory.
With Argentina having a population of 46 million, the celebration is providing a relief for a nation struggling against economic problems including inflation, weakening currency and tight capital controls. The poor planning of celebration and security failure to protect the soccer team’s bus are likely to be severely criticized.
The players, however, have been reluctant to meet the government authorities, to avoid mixing of politics and sports. A visit to the presidential palace was ruled out by the football federation on Tuesday. In addition, when the team landed at the international airport, Messi did not greet Interior Minister Eduardo de Pedro, who was waiting for the team on the tarmac.
Lionel #Messi and team were evacuated in helicopters after fans jumped from bridges to get on the bus during the #FifaWorldCup winners' parade in Buenos Aires#Argentinafans #FIFAWorldCupFinal https://t.co/s54PeOSdmb pic.twitter.com/IgjU5z47Q8
— News18 (@CNNnews18) December 21, 2022
Estiman que el 10% de la población argentina (casi cinco millones) están ahora mismo recibiendo al plantel campeón del mundo en las calles de Buenos Aires. pic.twitter.com/lvpETOS1Gg
— Pablo Giralt (@giraltpablo) December 20, 2022
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.
UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
_vb_77.jpeg)
_vb_00.jpeg)
