Right-wing troll account Mr. Sinha on ‘X’ calls dead Palestinian baby ‘plastic’ again
Journalist Mohammed Zubair debunked false claim made by Sinha who is followed by PM Modi
New Delhi: Popular right-wing Twitter account known as Mr. Sinha, followed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sparked controversy on Saturday, by describing a deceased Palestinian baby as a 'plastic doll.' This incident adds to a series of misleading claims made by right-wing social media figures in India surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Mr. Sinha shared a photograph portraying a five-month-old deceased baby being held by his mother, accompanied by the caption, "That's a plastic/toy baby. Heights of propaganda." The post attracted criticism, after fact-checker and AltNews co-founder, Mohammed Zubair, debunked the claim.
Zubair shared a screenshot of Mr. Sinha's tweet, revealing the true nature of the image. He clarified that the photo depicted the lifeless body of a five-month-old baby named Muhammad Hani Al-Zahar, who tragically lost his life in Israeli airstrikes. Zubair accused right-wing accounts like Mr. Sinha of knowingly spreading misinformation for personal gain, emphasizing their role in diluting the gravity of the conflict.
This is not an isolated incident, as right-wing troll accounts have previously labeled pictures of deceased Palestinians as fake, claiming them to be dolls or plastic figures aiming to falsely depict Palestinians as running propaganda against Israel, and undermine their claims of oppression.
The right-wing social media ecosystem in India has been notably vocal in its support for Israel, often aligning with the Israeli government's actions against the Palestinians.
It's not a Doll as claimed by Indian Right Wing account @MrSinha_. This is a dead body of a 5-month-old baby named Muhammad Hani Al-Zahar killed after Israeli airstrikes. They've carefully blurred the text in the video. These accounts know that it's a baby. But they are more… pic.twitter.com/lbTiupnc2a
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) December 1, 2023
It's not a Doll as claimed by Indian Right Wing account @MrSinha_. This is a dead body of a 5-month-old baby named Muhammad Hani Al-Zahar killed after Israeli airstrikes. They've carefully blurred the text in the video. These accounts know that it's a baby. But they are more… pic.twitter.com/lbTiupnc2a
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) December 1, 2023
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
