Kerala Floods: Impostor wearing Army uniform spreads fake news about rescue efforts
New Delhi, August 20: Incessant rains in Kerala have been causing havoc in the state while the central and state government resources are trying hard to take the situation under control. The Armed forces have been roped in for the rescue operation, governments of various governments have contributed financial and human resources. However, even at this stage, the spread of fake news doesn't seem to stop.
It has been found that an impostor wearing Army combat uniform in a video has been spreading disinformation about rescue and relief efforts.
Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army), tweeted regarding the same and said that effort by all and the Indian Army is aimed at overcoming the tragedy in Kerala where hundreds of people have died.
The ADGPI asked citizens to follow all disinformation about the Indian Army through WhatsApp. "We are at it," the tweet read.
Imposter wearing Army combat uniform in video spreading disinformation about rescue & relief efforts. Every effort by all & #IndianArmy aimed to overcome this terrifying human tragedy.Forward disinformation about #IndianArmy on WhatsApp +917290028579. We are at it #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/ncUR7tCkZW
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) August 19, 2018
Kerala witnessed some respite today after facing continuous rains over the past two weeks.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has withdrawn the Red Alert from all 14 districts.
This is the first time since August 9 that Red Alert has been withdrawn from the entire state. Reports from different parts of the state suggest that the water level is also coming down.
However, thousands are still stranded across the state. They have no drinking water and food. Authorities have launched a massive operation to distribute relief material, including airdropping food packets. The Indian Navy has dispatched INS Mysore and loaded it with relief material for Kerala.
Courtesy: www.indiatoday.in
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Catholic Bishops' body slams Bhagwat's remarks
New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on Thursday slammed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his reported remark that Pranab Mukherjee, when he was President, had said tribals would turn "anti-national" if there is no "ghar wapsi"Catholic Bishops.'
In a statement issued here, CBCI, a body of Catholic Bishops, referred to reports which said Bhagwat, at an event on Monday, claimed that Mukherjee, while he was President had appreciated ghar wapsi and told him that had it not been for the Sangh's work on reconversion, a section of Adivasis would have turned "anti-national".The CBCI called the report "shocking".
"Fabricated personal conversation being attributed to a former president of India and its posthumous publication with the vested interest of an organization with questionable credibility raises a grave issue of national importance," the CBCI claimed.
"Is it not the violent ghar wapsi program of VHP and other similar organizations, curtailing the exercise of freedom of conscience of economically deprived tribals, the real anti-national activity?" it asked.
'Ghar wapsi' is a term used by the RSS and affiliated organisations to refer to reconversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism, based on the belief that they were originally Hindus before converting to other religions.
The CBCI also questioned why Bhagwat did not speak about it while Mukherjee was alive.
"We, the 2.3 percent of Indian citizens who are Christians feel extremely hurt by such manipulated and motivated propaganda unleashed," it said.
In a post on X following the statement issued by CBCI, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said, "Speak up. This is a start!"
"Bishops body have issued a statement condemning remarks made by Dr Mohan Bhagwat and RSS for defaming the Christian community," he said.
O'Brien added that they should ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi more questions, including why Christmas Day has been turned into "Good Governance Day".
The TMC leader, in a blogpost earlier this month, had said "hard questions" must be asked to the government with regards to the Christian community, including why the FCRA has been 'weaponised', and why has Manipur been 'ignored'.
