Earlier today, Panchkula’s special CBI court held Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh guilty of rape in 2002 case filed against him by two ‘sadhvis’.
#FLASH Panchkula’s Special CBI Court finds Dera Chief Ram Rahim Singh guilty of rape. #RamRahimVerdict pic.twitter.com/RzzfthzVZr
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2017
Following the verdict, Dera followers took to violence in Haryana and as per initial reports 17 protestors were killed in police firing whereas over 200 were injured. Even more were detained in an attempt to contain violence.
#FLASH: Death toll in violent protests in Panchkula climbs to 17 and 200 injured #RamRahimVerdict
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2017
1000 #DeraSachaSauda have been detained, says Haryana’s ADGP (Law & Order) Muhammad Akil #RamRahimVerdict
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2017
Even as the Khattar Government struggles to maintain law and order in the state, the so called liberals had come up with their own suggestions on how to tackle the sensitive situation on hand.
Where are the pellet guns now ? https://t.co/zrlWRqLztG
— Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) August 25, 2017
Chilli bombs? Pepper grenades? Pellet guns? Do the forces keep those only for protesting Kashmiris? https://t.co/pToTv37eOG
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 25, 2017
No human shields in Panchkula? Tried & tested crowd control technique much appreciated in many TV news studios not long ago.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 25, 2017
Nidhi here is an NDTV journalist and Omar Abdullah is the former chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir. They are referring to pellet guns used by police in Kashmir to control stone-pelting separatist crowd in Kashmir.
They are conveniently forgetting to mention that rather than pellet guns, the police in Haryana is using actual guns, where as many as 28 (as per latest count as this report gets published) people have been killed and over 200 are injured.
A bit insensitive whataboutery?
When the death toll mounted, Abdullah realised the thoughtlessness of his tweet and repeated the tweet so as to suggest non-lethal pellet guns to control the crowd.
In light of the mounting death toll I again repeat this tweet about the “non-lethal crowd control” measures used extensively in Kashmir. https://t.co/xTakIZ0YHf
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 25, 2017
However, by then Congress leaders had chimed in too.
No one being tied in front of the jeep to ensure peace, I hope #BabaRamRahimVerdict https://t.co/8DNZcsAsbo
— Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) August 25, 2017
Where journalists were quick to exude their bigotry.
Good one… https://t.co/TuRvwyLSxy
— Saba Naqvi (@_sabanaqvi) August 25, 2017
But that is not the only whataboutery that happened today. Many were asking what if the religious head accused (before being pronounced guilty) was a Muslim cleric?
No rule of law for #RamRahim just imagine if a Muslim self styled cleric & his followers threatened this….. https://t.co/g0LHnfkUYh
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) August 25, 2017
Bainjal aka Swati Chaturvedi is best known on social media for spreading lies and hurling abuses at people who don’t agree with her.
Imagine if #RamRahimSingh had been a Muslim cleric!
— Agnivo Niyogi (@Aagan86) August 25, 2017
And of course, comparison of Dera followers to JNU students who had allegedly raised “Bharat tere tukde honge, inshaallah-inshaallah” slogans in February, 2016 while protesting hanging of the terrorist, Afzal Guru.
I guess no one calling these louts and goons anti Nationals? https://t.co/HgIHvnq7FM
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) August 25, 2017
And then, can cows be far behind?
Where is the Haryana CM and his cabinet? Hiding somewhere?
They’d be screaming blue murder had a single cow been harmed.— Ankur Bhardwaj (@Bhayankur) August 25, 2017
BUT WAIT, that’s not it. Some so called journalists also took it upon themselves to fear mongering. Why should mobs have all the fun?
After being called out on spreading rumours and fear, Faye decided to delete this tweet. Whatever happened to responsible journalism?
However, better sense prevailed over Omar Abdullah, who, after realising the gravity of the tweet, withdrew it unconditionally.
There is no point deleting it but I do withdraw it unconditionally with my condolences to the families of all deceased & prayers for injured
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 25, 2017
Perhaps expecting a little bit of sensitivity and restrain by the journalists in reporting delicate situations is asking for too much.
