New Delhi: Condolences are still pouring in for former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant who died in a helicopter crash Sunday. From President Donald Trump and former US president Barack Obama and basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, tennis dynamo Novak Djovokic to India’s own cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and actor Madhuri Dixit, there is shock, grief and a sense of loss.
Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020
Most people will remember Kobe as the magnificent athlete who inspired a whole generation of basketball players. But I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete. pic.twitter.com/9EZuwk8wrV
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) January 26, 2020
Saddened to hear about the tragic demise of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna & others on-board the helicopter.
My condolences to his family, friends and fans across the world. #KobeBryant pic.twitter.com/N8B4Tcr4KU— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 27, 2020
This is just so heartbreaking. The untimely death of #KobeBryant and his daughter is so devastating. He was one of the best basketball players who inspired millions of people. My deepest condolences to all the grieving families.
— Madhuri Dixit Nene (@MadhuriDixit) January 27, 2020
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi also queued up to pay her respects.
The world has lost a legend, and a family has lost its light. May the prayers of millions of people from around the world give #KobeBryant ’s family and those of the others who died in this heartbreaking tragedy courage and strength. #RIPMamba pic.twitter.com/KUGm6UtLBj
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) January 27, 2020
Meanwhile, BBC confused Bryant with another basketball hero, LeBron James when it showed clips of James instead of Bryant in an obituary video. Many, including British Labour Party politician David Lammy, called the news service out for alleged ‘racism’.
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James don't even look similar. If the BBC hired more black producers and editors, appalling mistakes like this simply would not happen.pic.twitter.com/kdX6e5XNnf
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 27, 2020
Mother and son are in the news again: journalist Tavleen Singh wants the Modi government to tweak the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) after international criticism.
Considering the protests and the damage they have done to India’s image why does the Prime Minister not consider tweaking CAA to make it non-discriminatory? Just say India welcomes all those persecuted for their faith as she always has.
— Tavleen Singh (@tavleen_singh) January 27, 2020
Son and author Aatish Taseer proved her point by participating in a New York celebration of Republic Day where the Modi government was criticised.
The Indian tricolour was unfurled down Fifth Avenue today in defence of the founding ideals of the Indian republic. Like the Constitution, it has become a symbol of the resistance to the Modi-Shah government’s determination to destroy what India has stood for through the ages. pic.twitter.com/EjjDWxKVB8
— Aatish Taseer (@AatishTaseer) January 27, 2020
Rajya Sabha BJP MP Swapan Dasgupta has a biting reply for the likes of Taseer in this sarcastic tweet on the food poisoning of foreign participants at the Jaipur Lit Fest.
There is a spirited debate over what caused many of the foreign participants at the JLF2020 to be felled by food poisoning. Was it the prawns at a swanky Palace hotel or a mysterious virus? Reassured that neither Modi nor Shah has yet been blamed for stifling awkward voices
— Swapan Dasgupta (@swapan55) January 26, 2020
Back in Delhi, the poll campaign is heating up the winter days: newly (s)elected BJP chief J.P. Nadda takes aim at Arvind Kejriwal for his alleged support of the ‘tukde-tukde’ gang.
Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and other anti-India forces raised seditious slogans like ‘Bharat tere tukde honge’ in JNU. They were threatening to violate India’s sovereignty. Law enforcement agencies moved in, investigated the matter and in Jan 2019 were ready to file chargesheet.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 27, 2020
They sought Kejriwal’s permission to prosecute this tukde tukde gang but one year later, till y’day, no permission was granted. Kejriwal must tell Delhi why is he supporting those who want to break India? Is it because acting against these anti-nationals will hurt his vote bank?
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 27, 2020
JD(U)’s Prashant Kishor counters Home Minister Amit Shah’s remark on how voters can send shock waves through Shaheen Bagh with some of his own advice on voting come February 8.
8 फ़रवरी को दिल्ली में EVM का बटन तो प्यार से ही दबेगा। ज़ोर का झटका धीरे से लगना चाहिए ताकि आपसी भाईचारा और सौहार्द ख़तरे में ना पड़े।
Justice, Liberty, Equality & Fraternity 🇮🇳
— Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) January 27, 2020
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad believes the women and children of Shaheen Bagh are conspiring against the “peaceful majority”.
Shaheen Bagh is emerging as a textbook case of a few hundred people seeking to suppress the peaceful majority.
This is the true face of Shaheen Bagh and uncovering it in front of the country is very important.
Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal are both silent on this issue. pic.twitter.com/UPGtrytWTl
— BJP (@BJP4India) January 27, 2020
And does film director Anurag Kashyap need to toilet train his thoughts?
हमारा गृहमंत्री कितना डरपोक है । खुद की police , खुद ही के गुंडे , खुद की सेना और security अपनी बढ़ाता है और निहत्थे protestors पर आक्रमण करवाता है । घटियेपन और नीचता की हद अगर है तो वो है @AmitShah । इतिहास थूकेगा इस जानवर पर।
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 26, 2020
Ah, a Twitter brawl between Congress’s national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill and singer Adnan Sami. Shergill panned the central government for awarding the Padma Shri to the Pakistan-born singer. Sami responded and things took an ugly turn.
Hey kid, did you get ur brain from a ‘Clearance Sale’ or from a second hand novelty store?
Did they teach u in Berkley that a son is to be held accountable or penalised for the acts of his parents? And ur a lawyer?😳
Is that what u learned in law school? Good luck with that!😂 https://t.co/s1mgusEdDr— Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) January 26, 2020
Uncle,i can reply in ur language but “Indian” culture teaches us to be respectful even to our enemies-u jumped border only recently so guess ur still learning.
Objection is to Policy of declaring Indian Soldier as foreigner & giving award to family of a Pak soldier.Good Day🙏 https://t.co/Tz8JxEqOur
— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) January 27, 2020
Will the BJP call its Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy an ‘anti-national’ for expressing dissent?
Air India disinvestment process restarts today https://t.co/72eklh9C3g: THIS DEAL IS WHOLLY ANTI NATIONAL and IWILL FORCED TO GO TO COURT. WE CANNOT SELL OUR FAMILY SILVER
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) January 27, 2020
Finally, this tweet from the Auschwitz Museum reminds us to spare a thought for the victims of the Holocaust exactly 75 years ago, today.
"Even in the midst of darkness, it is possible to create light and share warmth with one another; that even on the edge of the abyss, it is possible to dream exalted dreams of compassion" (Elie Wiesel, Auschwitz survivor)
Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Photo: Jarek Fiedor. #Auschwitz75 pic.twitter.com/pYKgEdF2Pz
— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) January 26, 2020