New Delhi: Twitter Monday offered many, many opinions on two big developments — the Indian cricket team’s first defeat at the World Cup against England and Dangal actor Zaira Wasim’s decision to quit acting as “it interfered with her faith”. Let’s take a look at some of them.
While Indian fans saw red after India’s defeat, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti saw orange — she blamed the new colour of the Indian team’s jersey for the defeat. Really ma’am?
Call me superstitious but I’d say it’s the jersey that ended India’s winning streak in the #ICCWorldCup2019.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 30, 2019
Union minister for animal husbandry Giriraj Singh was so offended by Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference’s Omar Abdullah’s analysis of Team India’s defeat that he called them Pakistani sympathisers. Maybe you need a new line of attack, sir?
उमर अब्दुल्ला और महबूबा मुफ़्ती भारत के हार से जितना दुखी नहीं हैं उतना पाकिस्तान के सेमीफाइनल की रेस से बाहर होने से दुखी हैं?
मौक़े पर इनका पाकिस्तान प्रेम जाग उठता है ?
— Shandilya Giriraj Singh (@girirajsinghbjp) July 1, 2019
In translation: Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are not as saddened by India’s defeat as they are by Pakistan being ousted from the semifinal race. This occasion has given rise to their love for Pakistan?
Theresa May, who is soon going to be former prime minister of the UK, caught up with the India-England match during a European Union Council visit. Maybe she took some solace from England’s victory in the midst of the Brexit catastrophe.
Good to catch up on a fantastic match between @EnglandCricket and India @BCCI at the #CWC19 during my trip to EU Council. pic.twitter.com/8oZdLKRdCn
— Theresa May (@theresa_may) June 30, 2019
Zaira’s decision to quit films led to a fierce debate about ethics of quitting a career because of religion.
Omar Abdullah was in favour of Zaira’s decision, saying it was her choice.
Who are any of us to question @ZairaWasimmm’s choices? It’s her life to do with as she pleases. All I will do is wish her well & hope that what ever she does makes her happy.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 30, 2019
But, Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi took a contrarian view. She said Wasim did a disservice to her religion by making it seem like Islam is intolerant to career choices.
Please practise your faith, if it is your calling, but do not use it to make your religion sound intolerant to career choices, which it clearly isn’t. This actually does a huge disservice to her religion & reinforces the narrative about Islam being intolerant.
— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) July 1, 2019
Shah Faesal, president of J&K Peoples Movement, agreed with Omar Abdullah and lauded Zaira for her “iconic status”.
https://twitter.com/shahfaesal/status/1145220446486269952?s=20
Meanwhile, Congress leader Milind Deora called out people who were bashing Zaira for an apparently regressive decision.
Phoneys suddenly lecturing on #ZairaWaseem & #NusratJahan.
I have Hindu & Jain friends right here in SoBo who renounced cushy careers for their gurus & faith.
You can choose whether religion determines your career or love life. Unless minors, let others decide for themselves
— Milind Deora मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) July 1, 2019
Onto some other news: BJP MP Tejasvi Surya called the assault on a woman forest officer by TRS MLA Koneru Konappa’s brother “disgusting”. Disgusting indeed, sir.
This is plain disgusting!
Assaulting an uniformed officer, more so a woman officer, is not only criminal but is also inhuman
I hope the police take appropriate action against these people. If people lose faith & fear of uniformed forces, it is end of rule of law. https://t.co/pBVnuaRuDR
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) July 1, 2019
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri celebrated Chartered Accountants Day by praising CAs for playing a pivotal role in shaping the country’s economy — some CAs have joined politics and have become successful too. Are you referring to Railways minister Piyush Goel, sir?
Best wishes on the occasion of Chartered Accountants Day.
CA's play a pivotal role in a rapidly growing & transforming economy & in the words of Dr. Rajendra Prasad "provide the first line of defence to unwary public against money grabbers & opportunists."@theicai #CADay pic.twitter.com/ve3EpDbLJ4
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) July 1, 2019
It seems Smriti Irani is taking her role as the cabinet minister of textiles very seriously as she praised Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy MaryKay Carlson’s love for sari in her farewell message to her. Always on the job, right ma’am?
Definitely milenge DCM Mary Kay. As usual the saree looks lovely on you. Enjoy the beauty of Indian textiles and handicrafts. Our best wishes and prayers for you & yours 🙏 https://t.co/dinI1Zw98c
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) July 1, 2019
Former finance minister Arun Jaitley sent out a very long thread of messages on GST which is celebrating its second anniversary. You can take the man out of the ministry but can you take the ministry out of the man, can you?
My own experience of two years while chairing the GST Council, was that Finance Ministers’ of States, notwithstanding the political position their parties take, have displayed a high level of statesmanship and acted with maturity. I am sure this trend will continue in future.
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) July 1, 2019
Looks like Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is listening intently to the prime minister. He discussed the water crisis on his Mann Ki Baat, Sunday, and tweeted the drought situation across the county.
महाराष्ट्र, चेन्नई बुंदेलखंड सहित देश के बड़े हिस्से में पानी की समस्या राष्ट्रीय चिंता का विषय है। जल है तो जीवन है लेकिन अभी जल की बढ़ती कमी हमारे लिए सबसे बड़ा चिंतन है।
हम सबको मिलकर इस समस्या का हल जल्दी निकालना होगा। ऐसा न हो कि कहीं देर हो जाए।#बिनपानीसबसून #SaveWater
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 1, 2019
In translation: The problem of water in large parts of the country including Maharashtra, Chennai Bundelkhand is a matter of national concern. Water is life, but the increasing lack of water is the biggest concern for us. We all have to get rid of this problem quickly.
With inputs from Revathi Krishnan