New Delhi: Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra came out in strong support of senior party leader and former finance minister P. Chidambaram whose anticipatory bail was rejected in the INX Media case.
While Priyanka tweeted early in the morning Rahul woke up four hours later to accuse the Modi government of character assassination.
Modi's Govt is using the ED, CBI & sections of a spineless media to character assassinate Mr Chidambaram.
I strongly condemn this disgraceful misuse of power.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 21, 2019
An extremely qualified and respected member of the Rajya Sabha, @PChidambaram_IN ji has served our nation with loyalty for decades including as Finance Minister & Home Minister. He unhesitatingly speaks truth to power and exposes the failures of this government,
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— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 21, 2019
Amit Malviya, BJP’s information and technology in-charge, offered a sharp rebuttal to Priyanka’s tweet reminding her that she too has skeletons in her closet. Wonder what he is referring to…
Priyanka Vadra’s support for P Chidambaram is quite natural. After all she has the experience of standing by Robert Vadra too, who is also facing several investigations for serious economic offences.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 21, 2019
Congress, on its part, voiced its unequivocal support for Chidambaram and disapproval of the BJP but it doesn’t look like the accusations affected the BJP all that much — see what they are tweeting about…
A govt that persecutes its citizens for speaking truth to power is only reiterating its own cowardly nature. @PChidambaram_IN is an extremely qualified & respected leader, he has served this nation with dedication & humility. We stand by his quest for truth no matter what.
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 21, 2019
डिफेंस कोऑपरेशन पर भारत और जांबिया के बीच एक महत्वपूर्ण एमओयू पर हस्ताक्षर हुए हैं। ये रक्षा के क्षेत्र को बढ़ावा देगा और डिफेंस कोऑपरेशन को मजबूत करेगा।
जांबियन आर्म्ड फोर्सेस की क्षमताओं को बढ़ाने के लिए इंडियन मिलिट्री और एयरफोर्स ट्रैनिंग टीम जांबिया में तैनात की जाएगी: पीएम pic.twitter.com/N4ZwIJ3Zak
— BJP (@BJP4India) August 21, 2019
Meanwhile, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor chose to stay mum on the issues plaguing the Congress for something closer to his heart.
The Upanishads say ‘ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti’. This was Swami Vivekananda’s favourite phrase about spirituality: That which exists is One; the sages call It by various names. https://t.co/9IzQawAZbV #TheHinduWay
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 21, 2019
After a long spell of silence, MLA from Vadgam Jignesh Mewani spoke out, this time in favour of political activist Shehla Rashid. See how.
When the entire media all forms communication are blocked, whatever stories the locals report from the ground must find a voice. @Shehla_Rashid is right to report stories the locals have to tell. (1/3)
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) August 20, 2019
The Aam Aadmi Party is doing all it can to promote itself these days: here’s a cartoon highlighting the Delhi government’s top schemes.
आगे बढ़ रही है दिल्ली, क्योंकि यहां आम आदमी 'सरकार' चलाता है ! pic.twitter.com/DcLspjL8aS
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) August 21, 2019
Amid all this grim news, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee remembered to greet Congress veteran Ahmed Patel on his birthday.
Birthday greetings to Ahmed Patel ji (@ahmedpatel)
আহমেদ প্যাটেল জি কে জন্মদিনের শুভেচ্ছা
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 21, 2019
Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu also celebrates his birthday today — many prominent BJP leaders wished him well, including Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.
Greetings to the young and dynamic Chief Minister of the beautiful state of Arunachal Pradesh @PemaKhanduBJP ji on his birthday. May the almighty bless him with good health, a long life and success in his endeavours.
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) August 21, 2019
Warm greetings to Arunachal Pradesh's Chief Minister Shri @PemaKhanduBJP ji on your birthday.
Your valuable contribution in the State's growth and development is laudable. May you be blessed with a long & healthy life. pic.twitter.com/3geh82BuWg
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) August 21, 2019
Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), continued his crusade to highlight the dire situation of the country’s economy.
Unemployment is at its highest in 50 years. Ironically, instead of tackling urgently the tumbling economy, the large-scale closures, and the laying off of jobs, dealing with the livelihoods of crores of people, the intention of this govt is to carry forward RSS’ fascistic agenda. pic.twitter.com/zmcFXlN6GO
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) August 21, 2019
While most people thought it was funny that US President Donald Trump wanted to buy Greenland, turns out he is very serious about it.
….The Prime Minister was able to save a great deal of expense and effort for both the United States and Denmark by being so direct. I thank her for that and look forward to rescheduling sometime in the future!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2019
Trump also made a comment on Kashmir and religious intolerance that prompted AIMIM president Asaddudin Owaisi to ask some pertinent questions of the government.
Asked about the Kashmir crisis, President Trump says that “Kashmir is a very complicated place. You have the Hindus, and you have the Muslims, and I wouldn’t say they get along so great. And that’s what you have right now.” pic.twitter.com/mss0w8U9Hd
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 20, 2019
Janab Wazir e AZAM @PMOIndia do we in Bharat have a Hindu & Muslim problem if NO then why is your government silent on this statement ,by not clarifying are we accepting we have a problem with both communities? https://t.co/X7tXlo6mbn
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) August 21, 2019