Right-wing Twitter users troll BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia for standing with Arfa Khanum
Bhatia spoke in support of Arfa as she was engaged in war of words with Pakistani cricketer
New Delhi: In the midst of the ongoing ICC cricket world cup, an ‘X’ post by an Indian Journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani criticising the behaviour of the crowds during the ongoing tournament turned into a heated discussion on the micro blogging site, with BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia getting trolled after he hit out at former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria over his remarks at Khanum’s post, on Monday.
The debate kicked off after Arfa on Sunday took to ‘X’ to express that she was “embarrassed and ashamed as an Indian.”
"Deplorable behaviour of many cricket fans during World Cup matches, makes me feel embarrassed & ashamed as an Indian. This petty, insecure & majoritarian approach towards sports which was meant to bring people together, is symbolic of the India Modi-RSS have created in last one decade," Arfa added expressing her dismay.
In the meantime, Danish Kaneria responded to Arfa’s post on the micro blogging site suggesting Arfa to “come to Pakistan.”
In his post the former cricketer wrote, “Come to my country Pakistan if you are feeling ashamed to be an Indian. India doesn't need people like you. I am sure many people in India will be happy to sponsor this trip."
Reacting to Kaneria’s remarks over Sherwani, Bharatiya Janata Party’s National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia took to X and suggested to Danish Kaneria that it would have been better if he could put his own house(Pakistan) in order first. He further added that, “Arfa criticized our country, wrongly so, but our relationship is not defined by the religion we profess but by the country we love, our Bharat. Even when there is very little in common with her, I decide to stand with a fellow Indian over the common faith we both have. This will surely go a long way to show to every citizen that the bond of love for our country should always be stronger than the bond of religion. Never ever dare to trouble a fellow Indian otherwise you will also be thrown out of the arena like the cricket ball. Jai Hind."
Moments after Gaurav’s post was live on the platform, In another post Gaurav slammed Arfa, sharing a photo of her heated debate with the former cricketer, he wrote in Hindi, “There is a saying, Dhobi ka kutta na ghar ka ghat ka.”
He went on, “People like her are so full of venom that they have started getting invites from Pakistan, even the Pakis pronounce that these venomous people don't love Bharat. Deliberate, introspect and ponder who gave them a chance to question your loyalty?”
Simultaneously, netizens started hitting out at the saffron party leader over his remarks on Arfa’s post.
Commenting on Gaurav’s first post where he warned Kaneria, a user @Bhanusingh_ questioned Gaurav of why there was so much love for the one who has problems in India. At the same time, another user @impuni stated that there was still a Samajwadi (Socialist) alive inside him (Gaurav), reflecting on Gaurav’s past association with the Samajwadi party as a spokesperson before joining the BJP in 2017.
Responding to his second post, a user @sunilmisr wrote, “the first line suits on you very well.”
Soon after Gaurav’s post went live on the platform, Kaneria responding to the BJP leader expressed tagging Gaurav Bhatia that the people should be allowed to decide on who would be thrown out of the arena, “You will not decide my fate, By the way, keep reading replies to this tweet. People are welcoming your support to Arfa Khanum. ??"
Netizens largely expressed support for Danish Kaneria on the platform.
“Danish Kaneria has unleashed an online lynch mob on me….,” Arfa Khanum
Arfa taking a serious note of Kaneria’s ‘come to Pakistan’ remark, Arfa asserted that the former Pakistan cricketer had started an online lynch mob on her.
"Danish Kaneria has unleashed an online lynch mob on me and I am trending on Twitter. Sad to see an intl cricketer celebrated by fans from different religions turning into a communal troll. Rest assured, I'm not leaving my country for Pakistan or any other place in the world," Sherwani replied to Kaneria's previous comment.
The heated debate continued as Kaneria responded to Arfa’s “Online lynch mob,” remark stating, “ Lynch' 'mob' 'communal' 'religious' 'troll' 'unleashed'! Don't use these propaganda words for me. Did I talk about communalism in my tweet? No! If you don’t like Pakistan, simply say - 'Danish, I don't like Pakistan'. That's it!"
Continuing the row, Sherwani in another reply asserted that "every word of your tweet was communal".
The Journalist further maintained, "Asking an Indian Muslim to 'go to Pakistan' is as communal and majoritarian as asking a Pakistani Hindu to convert to Islam. It is telling the minority people that you don't belong here or not until you convert to majority religion Got it?," the journalist wrote.
Meanwhile, Kaneria wrote, "I am not talking about conversion, majoritarianism, Hindus, Indian Muslims or religion."
"I am simply talking about your 'loyalty'. Got it? Let's end the debate with a single answer — "Just show me a single tweet in which you praised Bharat and its culture," he added in response.
“This debate ..highlights India’s greatest strength and strategic asset,”
In the meantime, several users showing support for Arfa's post expressed displeasure over Kaneria’s remarks. A user @joydas wrote, “A Pakistani Match Fixer who was banned for life is trolling an Indian Journalist and Indian RW is supporting the Pakistani Spot-fixer. Because the Pakistani the Matchfixer is Hindu and the Indian Journalist is Muslim and for Indian RW, Religion comes before Nation.”
Another user @parthpunter wrote, “Indian right wing in a nutshell: Supporting an ex cricketer who's trolling a journalist only because she's a Muslim. It doesn't matter that the ex-cricketer was banned for life for spot fixing.”
Reacting to the debate Congress leader Gaurav took to ‘X’ and wrote, “This debate for me highlights India’s greatest strength and strategic asset. Our ability to appreciate and defend our pluralism. This is why 1.2 billion people have remained proud and united. Indians will always rise to protect our DNA “unity in diversity’. #MohabbatKiDukan.”
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DMK to challenge Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Supreme Court
Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced its decision to challenge the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Supreme Court. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha early Thursday morning with a 288-232 vote despite strong opposition from several parties.
Chief Minister M K Stalin, addressing the Tamil Nadu Assembly while wearing a black ribbon in protest, condemned the passage of the Bill, calling it an attack on the Constitution and an attempt to disturb communal harmony. He reiterated that Tamil Nadu would fight against the BJP-led Union government on the issue of Waqf properties.
“A majority of political parties opposed the Bill, yet it was pushed through with support from some alliance partners. This move is condemnable. The DMK will challenge it in the Supreme Court,” Stalin said.
On March 27, the Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a resolution against the Bill. Stalin had then accused the BJP government of introducing policies aimed at excluding certain communities, citing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as an example.
“The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is another attempt by the Union Government to interfere in the religious administration of Muslims. It grants greater control to the government over Waqf properties, undermining their autonomy and violating fundamental rights,” he said.
Stalin further accused the BJP of pushing a divisive agenda, asserting that the Bill would create legal hurdles for Waqf institutions and strip them of their autonomy.
