New Delhi: Twitter was a lively place today. BJP indulged in some self-praise with a list of achievements. Meanwhile, Bollywood’s debate on nepotism rages on with everyone proffering their unsolicited opinions on the issue.
First, here’s a BJP-Congress spat.
Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, tweeted a list of BJP’s `blunders’ and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar produced his own list in retaliation.
कोरोना काल में सरकार की उपलब्धियां:
● फरवरी- नमस्ते ट्रंप
● मार्च- MP में सरकार गिराई
● अप्रैल- मोमबत्ती जलवाई
● मई- सरकार की 6वीं सालगिरह
● जून- बिहार में वर्चुअल रैली
● जुलाई- राजस्थान सरकार गिराने की कोशिश
इसी लिए देश कोरोना की लड़ाई में 'आत्मनिर्भर' है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 21, 2020
.@RahulGandhi note your achievements in the last 6 months –
February: Shaheen Bagh and Riots;
March: Losing Jyotiraditya and MP
April: Instigating migrant labourers;
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) July 21, 2020
It was a day for making lists – here’s BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia amplifying Javadekar’s efforts.
"राहु"ल काल में उपलब्धियां:
रक्षा स्थायी समीति की बैठक
2019
27.9 लापता
14.11 नदारद
15.11 गायब
18.11 निल बटे सन्नाटा
9.12 गुमशुदा
2020
17.2 लंपट
18.2 अतापता नहीं
19.2 गुम
20.2 लापरवाह
21.2 फरार
12.3 बंक#RaulVinci वो छात्र है जो 0 अंक पाता है पर उत्तीर्ण आये छात्र पर सवाल उठाता है https://t.co/BAcZ0etIdG— Gaurav Bhatia Sr Adv BJP गौरव भाटिया 🇮🇳 (@gauravbh) July 21, 2020
Another fiery exchange – this time between Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and former J&K CM Omar Abdullah. It began when Baghel alleged that Congress leader Sachin Pilot’s rebellion in Rajasthan had something to do with Abdullah’s release from detention. Pilot is Abdullah’s brother-in-law. An enraged Abdullah responded with disgust.
I am fed up of the downright malicious and false allegation that what Sachin Pilot is doing is somehow linked to my or my father’s release from detention earlier this year. Enough is enough. Mr @bhupeshbaghel will be hearing from my lawyers. Cc @RahulGandhi @INCIndia @rssurjewala https://t.co/Gojb7vN1V3
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 20, 2020
Baghel replied nastily and so did Abdullah.
You can send your answer to my lawyers. This is what is wrong with the @INCIndia today, you don’t know your friends from your opponents. This is why you people are in the mess you are in. Your “question” was malicious & will not go uncontested. https://t.co/abgijaSDyW
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 20, 2020
Congress MP Manish Tewari rakes up the controversial debate surrounding the Pulwama terror attack in 2019.
A lot of questions remain unanswered about #Pulwama terror attack. Sought a response from Ministry of Home Affairs on the investigation status, whether or not NIA has filed a chargesheet,details of perpetrators& source of explosives used to carry out the attack.#MyVoiceForPeople pic.twitter.com/eQlcjy1ZkE
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) July 21, 2020
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee goes back much further — to the loss of 13 party workers in a firing 13 years ago.
Today is July 21st #ShahidDibas. On this day in 1993, 13 of our workers were killed in firing by the erstwhile government. On this solemn occasion, we pay tribute to all victims of political violence (1/3)
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 21, 2020
And the gold scam crisis in Kerala deepens. BJP General Secretary B.L. Santosh accuses Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of colluding with the culprits.
Many in the office of Kerala CM @vijayanpinarayi closely associated with ringmasters of #KeralaGoldSmuggling . How can investigation happen fairly with CM in place . He should step down for fair probe . #ResignKeralaCM
— B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) July 21, 2020
Swati Maliwal, Chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women, is horrified by the attack on a Ghaziabad journalist.
ग़ाज़ियाबाद में पत्रकार विक्रम जी ने अपनी भतीजी के साथ हो रही छेड़छाड़ की शिकायत पुलिस में दर्ज करानी चाही, पुलिस ने मामले को गंभीरता से नहीं लिया। छेड़छाड़ के आरोपियों ने अब उनपर सरेआम जानलेवा हमला किया है, हालत गंभीर बताई जा रही है।
कैसा गुंडाराज चल रहा है यूपी में ? pic.twitter.com/ecQ3M3YSin
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) July 21, 2020
Former Lok Sabha MP Jayant Chaudhary hits out at Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb after the latter said that Jats and Punjabis were ‘less brainy’ than Bengalis.
My wife is a punjabi and she married me, so double whammy for us according to Tripura BJP Cm! 😮
Come to western UP, we can hold a debate and decide once and for all!!https://t.co/ZYntUeiSNp
— Jayant Chaudhary (@jayantrld) July 20, 2020
Moving onto drama in melodramatic Bollywood.
Actor Ranvir Shorey criticises independent filmmakers who slowly metamorphosed into commercial players. Director Anurag Kashyap takes it personally.
Do you really mean that @RanvirShorey . If you do please explain . Please say exactly what you mean and whose flunky is who? https://t.co/3NiuhFrVj7
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) July 21, 2020
I always say what I mean, @anuragkashyap72, you know that. And I don’t think what I’ve said lacks any clarity. It pretty much explains everything. As for taking names, that’s beneath me. I’m not trying to sling mud, but just reminding people where they come from. https://t.co/r4BRBH8Mwo
— Ranvir Shorey (@RanvirShorey) July 21, 2020
Actor Salil Acharya comments on how the Sushant Singh Rajput death by suicide is spiralling out of control.
Theyve called @RajeevMasand for questioning ???? For what ??? Coz he didnt like a film ?? That the whole world hated … what is goin on .. not only is this absurd is dwnright madness #SushantSingRajput
When will a sane voice speak up ?????????
— Salilacharya (@Salilacharya) July 21, 2020
Author Chetan Bhagat also attacked film critics, but prominent critic Anupama Chopra hit back at him.
Each time you think the discourse can’t get lower, it does! https://t.co/yhkBUd8VSQ
— Anupama Chopra (@anupamachopra) July 21, 2020
Finally, on the international front, Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade had shared a fake tweet and attributed it to Democrat Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Needless to say, she did not take things lying down. Kilmeade’s tweet has since been deleted.
So @kilmeade as a Fox News host are you going to take responsibility for spreading fabricated information about a sitting member of Congress or…? https://t.co/egSgAhncaz
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 21, 2020
https://twitter.com/kilmeade/status/1285405178842304513?s=19
With inputs from Shubhangi Misra