New Delhi: Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha, ever the rebel, went against his party’s stated position and congratulated his former party, BJP, for passing the historic triple talaq Bill. In particular, he congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. We’re sure the Congress party is as puzzled as we are.
Finally, big congratlations as the #TripleTalaqBill is a reality now bringing immense relief to our Muslim women. A super milestone, turning point at last, as women have been given justice, respect & honour which they truly deserve with this bill. A big victory for women
— Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) July 31, 2019
BJP MP and spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi joined Sinha in crediting the PM for the passage of the triple talaq Bill with a few choice words for naysayers.
ऐ .गरुर से तलाक़ तलाक़ तलाक़ देने वालों,
अब मेहर के साथ मेरा नूर भी वापस कर।
आज सारी औरतों का हौसला बुलंद है
ये फ़ैसला उस अब हर किसी को पसंद है ।
जो करते थे दलाली धर्म के नाम पर ,
आज उन सभी का मुँह बंद है ।।???????? pic.twitter.com/4j2w0yF2iH
— Meenakashi Lekhi (@M_Lekhi) July 31, 2019
Former finance minister Arun Jaitley resurfaced on Twitter with a 10-part tweet thread in which he scolded “pseudo-liberals” for not supporting the triple talaq Bill, attributing their “weak arguments” against the Bill as an attempt to keep Muslim fundamentalists happy.
The Triple Talaq Bill has exposed all the pseudo ‘liberals’. A ‘liberal’ should ordinarily be hostile to the idea of discrimination and injustice perpetuated by an oral divorce. In this case, not one spoke in favour of the Bill which is ending the injustice.
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) July 31, 2019
First, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulated his state (and himself) for the fifth consecutive year of reduced electricity tariffs, the lowest in the country. Then he and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia announced even better news for the capital. In election season, this is called giving more power to the people.
Congratulations Delhi
For fifth consecutive year NO electricity tariff hike. On the contrary, for fifth consecutive yr, tariffs reduced. Delhi has lowest electricity tariffs in the country now
And Del is the only place in India wid 24×7 electricity
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 31, 2019
Responses to the Zomato incident, where a customer cancelled his delivery because the rider was a “non-Hindu”, created a huge stir on Twitter. Politicians were quick to join in: Congress leaders Sanjay Nirupam and P. Chidambaram commended Zomato for standing by their employee. And while BJP vice-president Baijayant Panda agreed with the Congress leaders, he did have ideological differences.
Hats off @ZomatoIN and @deepigoyal.
We all should fight for idea of India at any cost.
Proud of you. https://t.co/rEpv0TNeSA— Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) July 31, 2019
I have not ordered food so far, but I think I will do so now from Zomato.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) July 31, 2019
#Zomato is right to deny a customer's request for a delivery person of a diffrt religion. But wrong (& hypocritical) to claim it dsn't mix religion with food. It fusses over religious clients' halal/Jain food. Curious if it does for all, eg a religious Sikh wanting non halal meat
— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) August 1, 2019
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya was appalled by Delhi’s air quality at a time the city is experiencing some of its cleanest-air days. Wait for November, sir.
The air quality in Delhi is scary. I have myself fallen sick due to respiratory infections three times in last two months I am here. Authorities at all levels must take drastic steps to address this issue. The general public also needs to do it's bit to help. https://t.co/uSjFJkGh6l
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) July 31, 2019
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and CPI leader Sitaram Yechury both cited the same Mint article to claim the NDA has led the country down the path of economic slowdown.
Destroy farmers, destroy small traders, destroy entrepreneurs, destroy businesses – bring misery to all sections of society – that seems to be the sole motive of the govt's economic policies since 2014. And it wants to avoid taking responsibility for its actions. pic.twitter.com/CuotWzCnW3
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) August 1, 2019
All reports point towards economic slowdown, downturn, with no recovery in sight. NDA has been playing havoc wd economy since last 5 yrs. They destroyed small businesses, traders,farm sector,unorganised sector wd their faulty policies.Still they are not ready to see warning signs pic.twitter.com/CTgBnVT0PY
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) August 1, 2019
Democratic candidate Joe Biden seems to be confident that the second Democrat debate Wednesday was going to a big slam dunk . Meanwhile, Senator Elizabeth Warren isn’t playing ball — read what she has to say.
Debate Night #2 is in the books.#DemDebate pic.twitter.com/swo54INprG
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 1, 2019
There’s a lot at stake for our democracy. But we can't choose a candidate we don't believe in just because we’re afraid.
I’m not afraid.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 31, 2019
Republican Mitt Romney and Democrat presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders indulged in a war of words after Romney called Sanders “all hat and no cattle”. We guess Sanders doesn’t have Romney’s vote.
Asked why @BernieSanders is so angry, the answer is simple: 28 years in Congress and never able to pass even a scintilla of his socialist agenda. All hat, no cattle.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) July 31, 2019
With women empowerment in the air after the passage of the triple talaq Bill, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee celebrated ‘World Breastfeeding Day’.
আজ থেকে শুরু হচ্ছে বিশ্ব মাতৃদুগ্ধ সপ্তাহ। একটি শিশুর বেড়ে ওঠার জন্যে মাতৃদুগ্ধপান খুবই গুরুত্বপূর্ণ। তাই ২০১৩ সালে বাংলার সরকার ‘মধুর স্নেহ তৈরি করেছে, যা পূর্ব ভারতের মধ্যে প্রথম মাতৃদুগ্ধ ব্যাঙ্ক।
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 1, 2019
With inputs from Fiza Jha.
Shotgun would have crossed his daily quota of drinks. Effect of his blabbering will be known tomorrow.