New Delhi: BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra felt the heat Wednesday – and it had nothing with the outside temperature. His decision to tweet a heart-wrenching photograph of a boy in Jammu and Kashmir sitting on his grandfather’s corpse, with a nasty caption ‘Pulitzer Lovers’, backfired as many people responded angrily.
Jignesh Mevani, MLA from Gujarat, reminded Patra that this photograph is proof of the violent conflict in which innocent people of the Kashmir valley continue to lose their lives. The grandfather had been caught in crossfire between the security forces and militants.
This is the level of Shaakha behaviour.
First undemocratically remove Art 370 and assure that it will finally bring peace to Kashmir, then at the same time mock a crying baby and the death of a Kashmiri civilian?!
Not only is there no peace yet, you also prove you are shameless. https://t.co/Af69w04yUJ
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) July 1, 2020
Actor Dia Mirza calls out Patra for his extreme insensitivity.
Do you not have an iota of empathy left in you?? https://t.co/PJYT4uZZbj
— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) July 1, 2020
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta also hit out at Patra — not one to back away from a fight, Patra responded.
This man who is supposed to be a spokesperson for the ruling party but is nothing but a troll and chronic abuser must be reported. https://t.co/cdc3FIwvt7
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) July 1, 2020
Mr Mehta,
Your ilk posts somber pic of the drowned Syrian Boy ..and of brutal chocking of George Floyd &you question PM Modi on alleged atrocities in India
If I post a pic of an Indian grandfather-grandson who are victims of terrorism & question the Pulitzer gang I am an Abuser?? https://t.co/xE5eYfhEBP
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) July 1, 2020
Moving on, author Devdutt Pattanaik takes an ‘artful’ dig at Jaggi Vasudev a.k.a Sadhguru.
Atma-gyaan
Self-realisation is a wonderful thing https://t.co/CEEpQNjIeg
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) July 1, 2020
Here’s former JNUSU president and CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar with a witty poem for the Prime Minister.
बोलो रे बेईमान, क्यूँ सरेन्डर किया देश का सम्मान
और क्यूँ नही लिया अब तक चाइना का नाम
गलवान में शहीद हो गए हमारे 20 जवान
और तुम पका रहे जुलाई में छठ पूजा का पकवान
— Kanhaiya Kumar (@kanhaiyakumar) June 30, 2020
RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav has a go at the PM Modi’s ‘language’ strategy for the upcoming elections in Bihar.
कऽउन भाषा..? आच्छा, भोजपुरी..!🤔 बिहार में चुनाव बा..।। https://t.co/Wa2oBU7CCs
— Tej Pratap Yadav (@TejYadav14) July 1, 2020
Can you answer Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s riddle?
"जब देखो तुम उसको वो, स्व स्तुति में लीन है
घंटों बतिया सकता है वो, बातों का शौकीन है"
बूझो तो जानें!
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 30, 2020
Former Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Yadav advises PM Modi one what he should do apart from the ‘One nation, one ration card’ scheme.
मेरा मानना है कि प्रधानमंत्री जी की सिर्फ मुफ्त राशन की योजना कारगर उपाय नहीं रहेगा।सरकार को गरीब के खाते में डायरेक्ट पैसा भी ट्रांसफर करने के इलावा अर्थव्यवस्था को पटरी पर लाने के लिए जो नुकसान छोटे व्यापारियों, दुकानदारों, उद्योगों और जो बेरोजगार हुए उनकी भरपाई भी करनी चाहिए।
— SHARAD YADAV (@SharadYadavMP) June 30, 2020
Here’s economist Kaushik Basu with a PSA on economic data.
In January this year the IMF’s forecast for India’s GDP growth in 2020 was 5.8%.
In April the forecast for the same year was 1.9%.
In June the forecast for the same year was -4.5%.
It’s a shuddering thought where we are headed by extrapolation.
— Kaushik Basu (@kaushikcbasu) July 1, 2020
Congress’ Randeep Singh Surjewala has his own theory about the BJP-Huawei-PM CARES triangle.
America bans ‘Huawei’. Says Chinese Company is a National Security threat.
Modi Govt. invites & permits ‘Huawei’ to participate in 5G trials in India.
Huawei donates ₹7,00,00,000 to PM Cares Fund.
मोदी है तो ये ही मुमकिन है।https://t.co/6KVBYIORVr https://t.co/5jENX0fckC
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) July 1, 2020
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi is in a congratulatory mood here – see who is the beneficiary…
Organisers of #LalBaughChaRaja in #Mumbai :
For the first time in its history, the famous Ganapati pandal won’t have an idol. Instead, there’ll be a blood donation & plasma therapy camp for 10 days of the festival. Excellent if true!
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) July 1, 2020
Everyone came out to commemorate National Doctors Day, lead by the country’s top leaders. President Ram Nath Kovind, PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah showered praise on them in these time of the coronavirus.
India salutes our doctors- exceptional care givers who are at the forefront of a spirited fight against COVID-19. #doctorsday2020 pic.twitter.com/WsWroXjVpO
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 1, 2020
Best wishes to all doctors on #DoctorsDay. We express our gratitude to the doctors for their selfless service in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The nation admires and salutes your professionalism and sacrifice in the service of fellow citizens.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 1, 2020
On Doctor’s Day, I salute our brave Doctors who have been leading the battle against COVID-19 at the forefront. Their uttermost commitment to keep the nation safe and healthy in these challenging times is truly exceptional. Nation salutes their devotion and sacrifice.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 1, 2020
CPI (M) member Md. Salim asked everyone to remember Dr Kafeel Khan. Khan was arrested under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) in March for allegedly delivering a hate speech at the Aligarh Muslim University.
Let’s us remember Dr Kafeel Khan on #NationalDoctorsDay who is imprisoned under National Security Act for exposing the poor medical infrastructure of Uttar Pradesh’s hospitals.
— Md Salim (@salimdotcomrade) July 1, 2020
If it wasn’t for Twitter we would never know whose birthday it is! BJP President J.P. Nadda wishes Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu.
Birthday greetings to the Vice President of India Shri @MVenkaiahNaidu . Your vast experience and wisdom have guided us immensely. Under your chairmanship, the Rajyasabha has done a tremendous work with maximum productive time. I pray for your healthy and long life.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) July 1, 2020
And, US President Donald Trump is angry – again – at China (yet again).
As I watch the Pandemic spread its ugly face all across the world, including the tremendous damage it has done to the USA, I become more and more angry at China. People can see it, and I can feel it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 30, 2020
With inputs from Shubhangi Misra