‘Deeply disturbed’: Director Anuparna Roy’s parents, as trolling follows praise after win at Venice
Kolkata: Film-maker Anuparna Roy’s parents have said they are deeply disturbed by the way Roy, who won the Best Director Award at the 82nd Venice Film Festival recently, is facing intense criticism on social media for voicing her support for Palestinian children during her acceptance speech.
The director had said during her speech, “Every child deserves peace, freedom, liberation and Palestine is no exception. I don’t want any claps for this, it’s a responsibility. Think for a moment and stand beside Palestine. I might upset my country but it doesn’t matter to me anymore.”
Brahmananda and Manisha Roy had earlier expressed pride at their daughter winning the award in the Orizzonti section for her film ‘Song of Forgotten Trees’.
According to Indian Express, her parents have called the trolling as an unwarranted campaign against their daughter. Expressing concern, the Roys said that Anuparna is being targeted for her remarks on the Palestinian children, with the trolls accusing the director of being biased towards a particular community. They added that Anuparna, whom they contacted, too was unhappy over the issue.
Brahmananda Roy clarified that Anuparna’s statement had been misunderstood. The director had spoken about all children in the world and not about those belonging to any particular community. “She did not say anything wrong,” he insisted.
He also reminisced that Anuparna had struggled hard to keep her passions alive and invested all her earnings into the art. She now needed the support to reach greater heights of achievement. “Instead of that she is being criticised. It is sad. As parents we are worried and disturbed,” Roy said.
Anuparna’s mother Manisha appealed to the people to stop targeting Anuparna. “Is it wrong to speak about the welfare of children? She just expressed her opinion. Everyone has the right to have his or her opinion,” she said, pointing out that her daughter’s win at the film festival was a matter of pride not only for them but also for the entire country.
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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.
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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.
