Amdavad Municipal Corporation has installed a 20 KL capacity LMO tank at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Civil Hospital where over 2,200 patients have undergone coronavirus treatment.
— Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital (@svphospital) April 30, 2020
As per a press release issued by SVP Hospital, owing to high number of coronavirus patients undergoing treatment at the hospital, there has been an increase in demand of medical oxygen supply. Hence, to meet that demand, a tank with capacity of 20 kilolitre liquid medical oxygen was constructed on war footing. This tank will help not only coronavirus patients who may need oxygen support but it will also make the hospital self sufficient going forward in terms of oxygen supply. The cost of construction of the tank was approximately Rs 1 crore.
Coronavirus in Gujarat
After Maharashtra, Gujarat has been worst affected in terms of coronavirus. As official ministry data, Gujarat has recorded 4,082 coronavirus patients as of 30th April, 2020. Of these, 522 have recovered while 197 have passed away. In Gujarat, too, Ahmedabad has been worst affected with as many as 2,777 patients who have tested positive. Senior Gujarat Congress leader Badruddin Sheikh died days after testing positive for coronavirus. Recently, Gujarat State Health Secretary Jayanti Ravi had said that ‘L’ strain of coronavirus may be possibly responsible for higher death rate in Gujarat.
The Crime Branch of Delhi police on Thursday slapped a fourth notice to the chief of Tablighi Jamaat, Maulana Saad Khandalvi to get him tested for Wuhan coronavirus in a government laboratory.
As per reports, Maulana Saad’s lawyer Fuzail Ayubi had informed the Crime branch that Maulana Saad had tested negative for Covid-19 in the report of a private laboratory.
According to the Delhi police, the fourth notice has been sent after the religious leader did not respond to earlier notices posted by the department. As per reports, three sons of the Maulana Saad were interrogated by the Crime Branch.
Maulana Saad still absconding
Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad is still absconding. The Delhi Police crime branch had sent two notices to Maulana Saad under Section 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The police have asked Maulana Saad to provide some documents. The second notice was sent after the reply to the first notice was found “unsatisfactory”. While Maulana remained untraceable Delhi police slapped another notice with 36 questions at his farmhouse in Shamli near Delhi.
There were reports that the head of the Tablighi Jamaat, Maulana Saad, who claims to have quarantined himself in the wake of the Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak, was reportedly using his time to gather support and mobilise the Jamaatis. Saad, a resident of Zakir Nagar is allegedly hiding on the outskirts of Delhi at a supporter’s house. Reportedly, the Islamic cleric had hidden in a densely populated area, knowing well that it could help evade arrest.
Maulana Saad charged under Culpable Homicide, Money Laundering Act
On March 31, the Delhi police had registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Maulana Saad under the Epidemics Act 1897 for allowing religious congregation in the month of March, despite repeated warnings from the center and the state government. On Wednesday, the Tablighi Jamaat Chief was booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
On April 16, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered a money laundering case against the Maulana Saad and nine others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on predicate offence that was registered by Delhi police. The agency had begun investigating the trust and the transactions of the trust that belonged to the Tablighi Jamaat chief.
The Kerala government on Wednesday promulgated an ordinance to override Kerala High Court decision to put a stay on deferment of the payment of salary of government employees for six days every month from April to August.
According to the reports, the Kerala government miffed by Kerala High Court order decided to float a new ordinance which will enable it to defer payment of salary up to 25 per cent. The decision to deduct the salary of employees was to ostensibly help the state tide over the financial strain emerged due to the Chinese pandemic coronavirus.
Speaking to the media, state Finance Minister Thomas Issac said that the government has decided to come out with Disaster and Public Emergency Special Provisions Act which will give it the power to defer payment of salaries, up to 25 per cent of all state government employees. The deferred salaries will be paid on a later date that will be decided after 6 months by the government.
“The central government should come out with a package for interstate and international migrant workers for their rehabilitation and relief. Center should take their responsibility as it comes under the union list,” he added.
Six days’ salary to be deducted
The government will be deducting a six days’ worth salary every month of all categories of government employees including teachers, university staff, workers of all public sector units in the next five months as a temporary measure. However, the deduction proposal is for those government employees whose salary is more than 20,000.
Opposition, govt employees protest
However, a section of government employees has shown disagreement with CM’s decision. The state’s medical officers’ association and the medical college teachers’ association have asked the chief minister to exempt frontline workers from the cut.
A group of teachers belonging to a pro-Congress trade union has protested by burning copies of the ordinance to postpone the payment of salaries.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Mullapally Ramachandran has rejected the ordinance stating it as a challenge to the judiciary. He said it reflected the ‘Janus-faced nature’ of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
“The government had no qualms about hiring expensive lawyers at tax payer’s expense to defend its dubious decisions in the High Court. It had splurged money on hiring a helicopter for VVIP movement. The State had dismally failed in collecting revenue, an estimated Rs 43,000 crore, even before the outbreak struck, ” Ramachandran said.
About 20 people were caught by the Jharkhand police who were moving unnecessarily violating the lockdown on Thursday at Mufassil Police station area. The police directed them to get off the two-wheelers and stand on the road. Then all of them were directed to do yoga asanas for some time. When it was all over the police directed them to leave and stay at home. The police also warned that if anyone in the future is found violating the lockdown then his vehicle will be confiscated.
Police made them take an oath of not leaving their place unnecessarily
Around 20 bike riders were stopped near COD bridge on the road leading from Giridh to Deoghar in Mufassil police station area on Thursday, the 16th day of the second phase lockdown. After they were caught, Pramod Prasad, ASI of Mufassil police station, get them to pledge that they will not go out on the road without any reason without helmets and masks.
During this, they also asked to promise to not do triple riding. Along with this, they were made to do many types of yoga exercises on the road. While conducting the yoga procedure, the police especially took care of social distancing and kept everyone at a reasonable distance.
ASI said that perpetrators were warned
ASI Pramod Prasad said that about 20 bike riders were stopped on Thursday near the COD bridge on the road from Giridih to Deoghar. Then as a punishment, all were asked to practice yoga and administered the oath. They were also instructed that if anyone of them were found on the road without any reason in the future, their vehicle would be confiscated.
On the 24th of April, it was announced the Law Faculty of Jamia Millia Islamia would be organising an online lecture series where notable dignitaries from diversified fields will be taking online lectures. The Lectures started from the 25th and on the 30th of April, Supreme Court advocate J Sai Deepak was slated to speak on the issue of Minority Rights and the issue of reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Universities like Jamia Millia Islamia and the Aligarh Muslim University. On the morning of 30th April, Mr J Sai Deepak was informed that his online lecture was cancelled. However, there is a string of events that happened between the invite being extended to the lecture being cancelled.
The discussion before the invite was extended
A representative of the Student Body of Jamia Millia Islamia, that is organising this lecture series, spoke to Advocate J Sai Deepak and requested him to be a part of the lecture series. Initially, the student body representative wanted Mr Sai Deepak to speak on the issue of ‘Mob Violence’. This request was turned down by Mr Deepak saying that he wanted the discussion to be academic instead of discussing issues that have political undertones. He said that while the discussion will be academic, any overlapping political issues can be discussed, however, he would want to stay clear of political undertones.
After much discussion, Mr Sai Deepak suggested that he would like to speak on Minority Rights and also touch upon the issue of reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Minority institutions like Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University.
The student coordinating with Mr J Sai Deepak spoke to the Student Council and confirmed via email the event to Mr J Sai Deepak on the subject of minority rights and secularism as discussed previously.
A poster to that effect was released on the 29th of April itself.
Poster by Jamia Millia Islamia
The protests – Some students start protesting, say won’t allow lecture by J Sai Deepak in Jamia Millia Islamia
As soon as the invite was extended to Mr J Sai Deepak, sections of students from Jamia Millia Islamia started protesting and demanding that the talk be cancelled.
This was confirmed by several students from Jamia Millia Islamia itself.
On 29th, a student confirmed that his friends in the Students Committee had convinced the University to proceed with the lecture, however, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to convince the “students” (who were protesting).
@jsaideepak sir thank you for accepting the Jamia invite. My friends in the Committee did convince the University. Will they be able to convince the students, that remains to be seen.#outrageisstarting
Soon, J Sai Deepak started getting messages from Jamia students informing him of the brewing protest against him and the demand for his lecture to be cancelled.
At this point, Mr Sai Deepak reached out to the Student Council via email informing him of his continued availability for the lecture subject to the condition that none of the student organisers would be harmed, either physically or otherwise, as a consequence of the invitation. Mr Sai Deepak emphasised that his priority was the safety of student organisers.
30th April 2020 – Jamia cancels lecture by J Sai Deepak
Despite the confirmation, on the 30th of April, the day the lecture was set to take place, the Law Faculty of Jamia Millia Islamia University cancelled the lecture by J Sai Deepak. A notice that cited no specific reason for the lecture being cancelled was put up, specifically naming J Sai Deepak and informing the students the specific lecture was cancelled.
Notice informing students that lecture by J Sai Deepak was cancelled
It is pertinent to note that this notice to students did not cite any reason for the cancellation of the lecture. It can be safely presumed that the lecture was cancelled due to the pressure on the University by the protesting students who were also against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Owing to Mr J Sai Deepak’s public positions on the Citizenship Amendment Act, Article 370 and on illegal migration, some students of Jamia Millia Islamia were demanding that his lecture be cancelled.
The student who had alerted about the protests first, informed on Twitter too that the event was cancelled due to the pressure by a few protesting students.
The event now stands cancelled. @jsaideepak sir was invited for a session in Jamia’s Faculty of Law and after few calls of boycott, the spineless administration is rattled. And the same lot lectures people on intolerance and Free Speech. #intolerantJamiapic.twitter.com/Vgz3YBRMBN
The strange reason provided by Jamia Millia Islamia to J Sai Deepak
While the notice by Jamia to its students did not provide any reason for the cancellation of the lecture, an email to Mr J Sai Deepak said that his lecture was being cancelled because the wife of an employee of the Law Faculty of Jamia had passed away due to old age.
Email sent to Mr J Sai Deepak
It was on 30th itself that J Sai Deepak was informed of the event being cancelled. However, the reason provided was suspect as one sees no reason for an online lecture to be cancelled by a university due to the death of the wife of an employee due to old age and illness.
Freedom of Expression only for chosen ones? UpWord steps in
Branding it intolerance and the administration cowering to the demands of intolerant students, UpWord has decided to host the lecture by Advocate J Sai Deepak on its platform, which is set to be attended by the Jamia students who had signed up to attend the previous lecture.
However, from Minority Rights, the subject has now been changed to ‘Freedom of Expression’ (or the lack of it).
Cowering to intolerant forces, administration of Jamia Millia Islamia has canceled the lecture of J Sai Deepak scheduled today at 8:00 PM. @jsaideepak will now interact with the students live on Upword at the same time. Join at https://t.co/lKp6fDjaNn at 8:00 PM. #IntolerantJamiapic.twitter.com/8p9XrPLLmD
It is worthy to note that Jamia Millia Islamia was at the heart of the anti-CAA protests that turned violent in November with Islamists joining in and indulging in unbridled stone-pelting, arson and vandalism. Ironically, the ‘protests’ were launched in the name of defending Constitutional values.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has come up with a strange ‘warning‘ for the media. She has asked journalists to “behave properly”, otherwise her government could take action against them under the present Disaster Management Act, which she was choosing not to.
“Please behave properly. Under the present Disaster Management Act, we can initiate action. But we don’t, because Bengal has a culture; we believe in humanity. Toleration is our dharma,” Mamata Banerjee said.
Accusing media of falling for BJP propaganda during the coronavirus outbreak, she added, “I just have one request for the media. When there’s an incident, you don’t bother to seek the government’s response. Rather, they become one-sided, negative, and a destructive virus carrier by listening to the BJP,” said the CM.
Eager to criticise the Modi government at the drop of a hat, she accused BJP of spreading “fake news” and “amplifying” the recent mob attack on police personnel in the red-zone Howrah district.
Castigating Mamata Banerjee for her intolerance, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar asked the CM as to why at the time of distress was she is wanting to “enhance bickering” and muzzle media. Taking to Twitter Dhankar said in a series of Tweets: “Why put media in fear? There should not be anything to hide. Independent media is spine, essential element of democracy. Why stress this asset!”
“We are in ‘roof falling’ situation and must shun petty politicking”, the Governor shared a piece of advice for Mamata Banerjee.
Appeal all parties to be in sync in combating Covid 19. Pained @MamataOfficial ‘opposition behaving like “vultures waiting for the dead”. We are in ‘roof falling’ situation and must shun petty politicking.
Why enhance bickering in times when people face untold miseries.(1/3)
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) April 30, 2020
The mob attack on police personnel in Howrah
The Howrah incident, which Mamata Banerjee claimed was a piece of “fake news” and “amplified” by BJP, had actually occurred at the Belilious Road in Howrah, West Bengal on April 28, 2020. Policemen were attacked after they entered the area to enforce the lockdown in the wake of the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic. It is one of the worst affected areas of West Bengal, second only to Kolkata. In a video shared by a journalist associated with Times of India, security personnel can be seen running for cover after the mob came after them.
In a different video shared by an associate editor at India Today, the mob was seen dragging a policeman, apparently, to safety. A voice in the video says that the face of the policeman has been injured. Another voice agrees. The voices appeared angry with the mob and wanted the Police to crack down on the mob.
As per reports, two to three policemen were injured in the mob attack. The incident occurred at the Belilious Road in Howrah when the Police asked people defying the lockdown to go back to their homes. The mob also attacked the Tikiapara Police Station and pelted stones at the policemen. Bottles were also thrown at the Police.
Allegations against Mamata Banerjee in handling the coronavirus outbreak
The health-care experts believe that the situation in Bengal is very grave as the Mamata Banerjee-led government has not been giving real data to assess the actual seriousness of the pandemic. From threats to doctors for whistleblowing against the state government against lack of facilities to allegations of state government illegally disposing of dead bodies, there have been serious allegations against the Mamata Banerjee government in Bengal.
Mamata Banerjee rants against Centre
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister herself is engaging in rants against the Central Government and a lack of cooperation on her part with authorities at the centre has been reported on numerous occasions. She is busy making false claims about the central government and accuses them of undue political interference in the affairs of her state. Mamata Banerjee has also asked Coronavirus positive patients to quarantine themselves at home, indicating that the spread of the virus is much greater than admitted by the state government.
Throughout history, the youth have been the pillar of revolutions. Wars have been won by the greatest of commanders on the back of the youth who were willing to kill and be killed on the field of battle. The difference between victory and defeat is, often enough, the enthusiasm of the cadres and the faith of the youth in the men who lead them into battle. It is always on the back of the youth that the fate of the Flags of the forefathers rest. One such youth who sacrificed his life to defend the honour of the Flag he so loved was Sama Jaganmohan Reddy. There are opportune moments in the life of any nation, seemingly insignificant, when ordinary men can cast their shadows across the tides of time if their spirit of gallantry overcomes the fear in their heart. It was one such moment.
Forty years ago, on the occasion of Republic Day, the Vice Chancellor of the Kakatiya University in Warangal, now in Telangana, hoisted the National Flag in the presence of the teaching and non-teaching staff and the students of the University. Now, those were troubled days and it was the era when Naxalism was a dominant threat in the region. Thus it happened, during the ceremony, members of the Radical Students Union (RSU), a frontal group of Maoists that has been banned since then, ambushed the flag post, pulled the Tricolour down and hoisted a black flag in turn. They shouted derogatory slogans against India and the Indian Constitution, that is often the norm, and attempted to burn the Flag. It was in that moment that Sama Jaganmohan Reddy, the then president of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), etched his legacy across the sands of time.
Sama Jaganmohan Reddy sprang forth like a lion and with assistance from a few of his trusted comrades, chased away the hooligans of the RSU and restored the Indian National Flag to its rightful place. It was an act of bravery, a moment of impulsive valour, a demonstration of great honour and one that would go on to claim his life. The situation at the time was so grim that when an inquiry was launched by the government into the desecration of the Flag by the government, students were afraid to come forward and testify against the RSU. But Sama Jaganmohan Reddy was made of different mettle.
Sama Jaganmohan Reddy not only came forward but became the chief witness in the matter. He revealed the names of those who had participated in the charade against the National Flag, which earned him the wrath of the RSU. The Maoist students’ group and another frontal organization, the People’s War Group (PWG) threatened him with dire consequences but he did not flinch. He went numerous times to the Court in order to testify against the members of the organization. And that, his obstinate sense of duty and honour, would go on to claim his life.
On the 29th of April, 1982, when the ABVP Karyakarta was returning from the Court and entered the crowded Hanumakonda Head Post Office area, a band of Naxalites pouced upon him and inflicted mortal wounds on his body. He was stabbed indiscriminately and ultimately, he abandoned the mortal flesh to depart for the Heavens above. The events on the penultimate day of the month of April all those years ago were merely the conclusion of a chain of events that were set in motion over two years prior to them. It was a tragic end to a life that promised so much more. But in the end, was snuffed out by the demons in our midst.
Sama Jaganmohan Reddy may not be with us today but the flame of his courage continues to shine its light through the ages of time and will continue to serve as an inspiration for those who revere this land we call our home. Even thirty eight years after his death, his sacrifice is remembered to this day and people continue to cherish his memory. The example he set through the act of supreme valour continues to galvanise others to serve our motherland. Innumerable people have walked this sacred land of hours but only few worthy men of honour have been able to etch their names across eternity. The ABVP Karyakarta was one such man.
Since the fateful day four decades ago, the footprint of Naxalism has greatly reduced and continues to grow weaker with every passing day. And in that time, a sibling of the ABVP, the BJP, which was formed in 1980 as well, has come to dominate the highest echelons of power. To a neutral observer, the sacrifice made by Sama Jaganmohan Reddy may appear to be insignificant in the grand of scheme of things. But it is due to the aggregation of such innumerable sacrifices that a nation attains prosperity. And over the years, the men of the ABVP have had to make countless such sacrifices. Jagan may have fallen that day but the gravity of his actions and others such as him will continue to create ripples throughout history.
On Thursday, veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passed away after battling cancer for two years. The actor was admitted to HN Reliance Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday morning.
As reports emerged that veteran actor was nor more, netizens expressed shock and grief over his death. However, some section of netizens, including self-proclaimed ‘liberals’ and Islamists took to Twitter to shamelessly use the death of Rishi Kapoor to wish death upon Prime Minister Modi.
At a time when the entire nation is grieving for the loss of two Bollywood veterans – Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor, Islamists descended on Twitter to display their hatred against PM Modi by wishing him death.
One Twitter user, who goes by the handle @mangokulfi asked when was PM Modi’s turn to die.
Another Islamist named Shahid jumped on to the scene to praise the social media user for wishing death of Prime Minister Modi.
As Journalist Nidhi Razdan shared the news of Rishi Kapoor’s death, a person named Syed Ateeb Bukhari replied to her by stating that he was waiting for PM Modi’s death.
A social media user, tweeting to a post of parody handle of ‘God’, asked him to take Narendra Modi as well, as he was a ‘good actor’. The death wish was made in reference to the death of two veteran actors of Bollywood.
Another Islamist from Kashmir asked the God to give Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor back and in return take PM Modi.
‘Secular-Liberal’ hatred against PM Modi and Amit Shah
Notably, the unadulterated hatred against Prime Minister Modi from the secular-liberal intelligentsia has been displayed quite often. The left-liberal intelligentsia has often wished the death of Prime Minister Modi.
Just weeks back, Samiya Latief – a Kashmiri ‘journalist’ working with Times of India, had wished that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah get infected with the deadly coronavirus which has infected more than 2 million people across the world.
Similar to Latief, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi had indirectly hoped that Prime Minister Modi be tested positive for the deadly coronavirus that has now become a global pandemic.
Islamists attack on deceased Irrfan Khan
Hours after cctor Irrfan Khan died on Wednesday in Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, few Islamists had taken to social media to shamelessly celebrate the Bollywood actor’s death.
Khan will not only be remembered for his magnificent acting career but also for his progressive ideas. Khan’s criticism of the practice of killing goats for ‘Qurbani’ and belief that faith is about introspection had earned him a lot of admonishment by the hardliners and Islamists, especially on Wednesday soon after his death.
Following his death, Islamists ganged up on Twitter to foul-mouth the fellow Muslim Irrfan Khan for his progressive views, some even stated that his death during the month of Ramzan is a ‘punishment’ for his statements.
Indians who are wanting to travel back home to India from UAE during the Wuhan Coronavirus lockdown will be able to register themselves online with the Indian embassy in the United Arab Emirates. The Indian Mission in UAE has opened the e-registration platform for Indians who want to be transported back to India.
The Indian embassy in Dubai announced this on Twitter on Wednesday with the details of data collection through the website of the Indian consulate in Abu Dhabi.
1/2 Registration in database of Indian nationals wishing to travel back to India under Covid 19 situations pic.twitter.com/0iN3w311Rh
The notice issued by embassy said, “All Indian nationals in the UAE are hereby informed that the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India, Dubai, have uploaded a form for [the] collection of data to create a database of Indians who wish to travel back to India under COVID-19 situation.”
It further added, “Register in database of Indians to travel back to India under COVID-19 situation. These can be entered by following the link www.cgidubai.gov.in/covid_register
As per reports, the form is to be filled by one person at a time. If a family wants to come back then each member will have to fill separate forms. In case of a company, a separate form has to be filled for each employee.
Purpose of the form to collect information to provided to the Indian government
The Indian mission had earlier clarified that the purpose of the form was regarding the collection of information of Indians to enable the Indian government to plan the return of Indians stranded in Arab.
The notice read as, “The main objective of the database is to estimate the number of people who wish to travel to different parts of the country so that appropriate planning could be done to receive them in India and take all the precautions to avoid the spread of Covid-19.”
The embassy has urged Indian community to not to visit the Indian embassy in view of novel coronavirus epidemic across the world to maintain social distancing.
The notice further said, “Any further updates on travel back to India will be made through the website and social media channels as and when decisions are made in this regard.”
Indians urged the government to fly them home
The Indian origin population stranded in UAE had earlier appealed to the Indian government to airlift them to India as soon as possible. It has been struggling for the employees on visit visa to live abroad amid the coronavirus epidemic.
Mostly Indians who wish to come back are mainly job seekers on visit visas, unemployed blue-collared workers, expats suffering job losses, sick and elderly persons, pregnant women, and separated families.
Kerala govt portal receives more than 3 lakh registrations
The Department of Non-Resident Keralite Affairs has also started registration of Keralites staying at foreign countries who want to come back to India. Till Wednesday more than 3 lakh persons from Kerala have registered on the NORKA portal, according to reports. People want to return to India due to various reasons, like loss of job, annual holiday, expiry of visas and being released from jail etc. Out of 3.20 lakh registrations, around 56,000 have cited job loss as the reason, according to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor is quite often complimented for his way with words. He takes pride his English vocabulary. However, through his tweets, another interesting pattern has also emerged through the years. He likes to promote himself and throw names when he condoles death of famous people.
Saddened to hear that my senior schoolmate at Mumbai’s CampionSchool, Rishi Kapoor, whom i competed with in “inter-class dramatics” in 1967-68, has gone to a better world. From the romantic hero of “Bobby”to the mature character actor of his last films, he evolved remarkably. RIP pic.twitter.com/9eyzE0qP38
While condoling Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor’s death, Tharoor pointed out how Kapoor was his senior in Mumbai’s Champion school where he had studied as well. Tharoor also studied in St Stephens and he was President of St Stephens Students Union. How do we know it? Well, he pointed it out while condoling former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s demise in August 2019.
Deeply saddened by the tragic passing of my friend&DelhiUniv senior @arunjaitley. We first met when he was at DUSU& I was President of StStephen’sCollegeUnion. Despite political differences we enjoyed a healthy mutual respect&debated his Budget often in LS. A great loss4India pic.twitter.com/RzxO1V6NTV
He likes to talk about his own achievements when he is shocked and saddened over someone’s demise. Here is him condoling former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s death in August 2019.
Shocked & saddened by this news. I last saw Sushmaji at @PMOIndia‘s swearing-in two months ago. She was a brilliant speaker in Hindi, a genuine “people’s person” in Government &I was proud of our excellent relationship when I chaired the External Affairs Committee. Om Shanti… https://t.co/1Q2kpUSj3x
Saddened by the passing of DP Tripathi who became a good friend during our years together in Parliament’s Standing Committee on External Affairs. Highly literate, cultured & well-spoken, Tripathi Sahib engaged with me on books & ideas. I miss him greatly. https://t.co/DKbitzVqcM
Saddened by the passing of @Asma_Jahangir. Though we had not been in touch for some years, i knew her during my @UN days &found her admirably courageous&principled, as well as a marvellously likeable human being. May her convictions&principles live on. https://t.co/A08Sh53s7E
Tharoor took the passing of former Foreign Secretary to let people know how he had once transitioned from Palakkad to Thiruvananthapuram.
Saddened by the passing of former ForeignSecretary KPS Menon, who like me transitioned from Palakkad to Thiruvananthapuram via international service! My condolences to his son @ShivshankaMenon, an outstanding FS himself:https://t.co/qkYpw81VXQ &https://t.co/UmGbUqKyxP
And while Shashi Tharoor playing a cameo in Andaz Apna Apna may be an old running Internet meme, did you know he acted some film called ‘Oliver!’ in 1968? Well, he let us know when adman Alyque Padamsee passed away.
Saddened by the passing of Alyque Padamsee, creative guru, theatre personality& adman extraordinaire. He directed me in “Oliver!”in 1968. I remember him telling a co-actor, “stay still! don’t run around like a chicken with its head cut off.” First time i’d heard the expression!
Saddened to hear of the passing of NRI businessman Adv. C K Menon. He had been active in philanthropic causes & supported NonResident Keralites as Norka Roots vice chairman. Had given him an award myself in 2009 https://t.co/OKTNY0YQjz
I am deeply saddened by the death of Swamy Sathyaprakasha Jnana Thapaswi, President of Santhigiri Ashram. In my decade long association with the Ashram, he embodied the salient virtues of spirituality enshrined in the teaching of Brahmashree Karunakara Guru, the Ashram’s founder. pic.twitter.com/q0dH7rw50x
In Thiruvananthapuram this weekend, when I paid a condolence visit to the home of the late @cpimspeak leader BS Rajeev, his widow told me emotionally that he possessed, &had read, all my books. If only politics could always be like that: people trying to understand each other…
Tharoor also likes to share post-condolence pictures with his fans.
As I walked past after a condolence visit nearby, five excited young Technopark employees rushed out of the house they share and demanded selfies. They were quite composed in this group pic though! pic.twitter.com/I54givYlnu
