A crowd that had gathered at a kabristan (Muslim graveyard) in Ahmedabad’s Juhapura beat up an Ahmedabad Police official over allegations of clicking the pictures and videos of the crowd that had gathered. They also snatched his mobile phone. Vejalpur Police in Ahmedabad has taken cognisance and registered a case. Five people have been arrested so far in this regard.
As per reports, Mohammad Ahmed alias Raja Siddiqui, Mazhar Khan Pathan, Feroz Mohammad Shaikh, Iftekhar Kalyani, Sultan and Parvez Shabir Sheikh are the five accused who are arrested. These five had gathered along with a crowd at the Muslim graveyard. They had reportedly come to offer flowers on the grave on occasion of Eid.
Krishnakumar Bhavsingh, who works as ASI of the Special Branch, reached the Kabristan and started taking images of the crowd that had gathered for Eid. Some men from the crowd spotted him and attacked him and even snatched his phone.
When the cop was carrying out his duty, some men from the mob said, “This man is taking photo of the crowd, beat him up and take his phone. So what if he is a policeman.” They then gathered and beat him up. The policeman saved his life and escaped.
He subsequently filed a police complaint. Initial investigation has revealed that some accused also have past cases registered against them. The police is looking to arrest more accused.
Owing to the rising COVID cases in the state, the Gujarat state government has prohibited large gatherings in a bid to curb the spread of virus. Bhavsingh, who was following the orders of his seniors, was on duty to gather intel in Juhapura when he found his way to the kabristan and saw COVID protocols being flouted. He decided to record the evidence. However, some people saw him taking pictures and took law into their own hands.
Amidst escalating tension between Israel and Palestine, the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced that it will boycott the White House’s annual Eid al-Fitr celebration in protest of US President Biden administration’s response siding Israel.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in a Tweet announced, “CAIR Joins Boycott of White House Eid Celebration in Response to #Biden Administration’s Defense of #Israeli Attacks on #Palestinian Civilians.” The Tweet is accompanied by an image of the devastation in Gaza and reads, “President Biden, does your TV show you these children in Gaza? Does their murder deserve your condemnation?”
The group claimed it is “incredibly disappointed and deeply disturbed” by the US position on the violence.
“President Biden has the political power and moral authority to stop these injustices. We urge him to stand on the side of the victims and not the victimizer,” CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said.
“CAIR joins other American Muslim organizations in cancelling our plans to take part in President Biden’s Eid celebration. We cannot in good conscience celebrate Eid with the Biden Administration while it literally aids, abets and justifies the Israeli apartheid government’s indiscriminate bombing of innocent men, women and children in Gaza. President Biden has the political power and moral authority to stop these injustices,” he added in a statement to the media.
The White House this year had scheduled a virtual Eid celebration to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan for Sunday. However, the newly elected President Biden received severe backlash from Muslim groups, pro-Palestinian ‘activists’, and progressive Democrats for his stand on the current violent conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Biden’s statement
Joe Biden on May 12, said that Israel has the right to defend itself when thousands of rockets are fired at its territory. He answered to one of the reporters who asked him about his views on the ongoing escalation in Israel.
Biden: “Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory.” pic.twitter.com/GfzL9gcjgi
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) May 12, 2021
Biden said that he had a conversation with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and expected violence would end sooner than later.
In an official readout of the call between the two readers, it was said, “He condemned the rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including against Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. He conveyed his unwavering support for Israel’s security and for Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself and its people while protecting civilians. He also conveyed the United States’ encouragement of a pathway toward restoring a sustainable calm.”
Israel thanks Joe Biden
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Nentanyahu during an official press conference thanked President Biden for his clear and unequivocal support to Israel.
No one should have any equivocation about the choice that is so clear here and I want to thank @POTUS Biden for his clear and unequivocal support. You cannot equate a democracy that values life with a terror organization that glorifies death.
The situation in Israel continues to remain grim with Israel having vowed to put an end to the menace created by Hamas- an Islamic terrorist organization.
Rebel YSR Congress MP Kanumuru Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju, who was arrested by CID on sedition charges yesterday, has alleged that he was tortured in custody. When the Andhra Pradesh MP was presented before the Magistrate, his lawyer said that police used third degree methods against him, and due to that he is unable to walk now.
The counsel of the MP also said that he had undergone bypass surgery a few months ago, and therefore his medical examination is very necessary after the torture.
The lawyer told the magistrate that after Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju’s arrest on 14th May from his residence in Guntur, at around 11 PM in the night, when he had gone to sleep, suddenly five persons had entered his room. They had their faced covered with handkerchiefs. The MP informed that they tied his legs with a rope, and after that one beaten him on his feet with a stick, while another used a hard rubber stick.
After the torture, they ordered him to walk on the floor, and when he did that, they again repeated the assault, and beaten him with stick and rubber sticks several times. After that when he was unable to walk, they left the room.
Listening to the narration of the torture, the magistrate noted that tenderness was noticed on both the feet of the accused, ordered his medical examination in presence of the Y category security of the MP. The Magistrate directed to examine the injury marks and approximate time when they happened.
Images have surfaced on Social Media showing how badly the rebel YSR Congress Party was tortured badly in custody. The photographs of the MP show that his feet have turned purple, confirming that he was beaten by using 3rd degree methods in custody.
Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh has slammed the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the assault of a sitting MP in custody.
Telugu Desam chief N Chandrababu Naidu tweeted that Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju was “tortured right in the AP CID office in a barbaric manner”. He said that the rebel YSR MP was arrested on a foisted case, and termed the torture “broad daylight violation of fundamental rights and mockery of democracy”.
.@raghuraju_mp was arrested on a foisted case, tortured right in the AP CID office in a barbaric manner. His crime? To question the criminal CM on his anti-people ways. Broad daylight violation of fundamental rights and mockery of democracy. (1/2)#WeAreWithRRR
BJP national secretary Sunil Deodhar tweeted condemning the torture of Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju by Andhra Pradesh Police. “Till now, people of AP thought YSRCP is a Rowdy-Party. But now, Police Dept also seems to have become its another Rowdy outfit”, he added.
I condemn the torture of MP #RaghuRamaKrishnamRaju by AP Police. Till now, people of AP thought @YSRCParty is a Rowdy-Party. But now, Police Dept also seems to have become its another Rowdy outfit.
BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh said that the MP was tortured because he had raised his voice against missionaries and forceful religious conversions done by them.
The brutal third degree like treatment given to a sitting MP @RaghuRaju_MP must be condemned in strongest sense!
What was his fault? That he raised voice against missionaries and forceful religious conversions done by them. YSRCP letting it happen? pic.twitter.com/N8ZA21BMML
— Parvesh Sahib Singh (@p_sahibsingh) May 15, 2021
Kanumuri Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju was arrested in Hyderabad by Andhra Pradesh’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Friday, and police had said in a statement that he was arrested on charges of sedition, disturbing communal harmony and attacking dignitaries of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government. The police statement had said, “through his speeches on regular basis Mr Raju was indulging in systematic, schematic effort to cause tensions among the communities and by attacking various government dignitaries in a way which will cause loss of faith in the government which they represent”.
The Lok Sabha member from Narsapuram constituency have been speaking against his party leader for last several months, and in the recent weeks he had criticised CM Jagan Mohan Reddy over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. Last month, he had asked the CBI court to cancel the bail granted to the CM in an alleged disproportionate assets case. He had said that the CM is violating the bail conditions.
A few days ago, Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju had released a video making several allegations against the YSR Congress government. He alleged that the state is under-reporting Covid-19 deaths, and the CM was playing with corpses. He said Jagan govt was trying to make people addicted to alcohol, as the state has not imposed a full lockdown when the neighbouring states have done so. He had even questioned the Andhra Pradesh High Court for not ordering a lockdown in the state.
He said that if Jagan Reddy wants to be the prime minister, it is not right to sacrifice the lives of people to achieve that.
The MP had earlier commented on religious conversion of Hindus by Christian Missionaries, and had said that the missionaries are converting Hindus to Christians using money.
The Uttar Pradesh unit of Aam Aadmi Party today posted a misogynistic tweet attacking the Union Minister Smriti Irani.
Through its official Twitter account, the Uttar Pradesh Aam Aadmi Party insinuated that Smriti Irani has an illicit relationship with PM Modi, innuendos which her detractors have often used while making sexist attacks against her. In the tweet in Hindi, the UP AAP referred to PM Modi as Smriti Irani’s hero, referring to a popular song from Varun Dhawan, Ileana D’Cruz and Nargis Fakhri starrer Hindi movie Main Tera Hero.
Source: Twitter
The distasteful tweet by the Aam Aadmi Party was in response to a tweet uploaded by the BJP leader. In her tweet, Smriti Irani had shared a report published on Jagran to assert that the states were cautioned by the Centre about the subsequent waves of the coronavirus outbreak in the month of January itself.
“The states were being cautioned by the Central Government since January to keep the pace of the ongoing war against Corona fast and in view of the increasing number of cases in the country. Along with the advice of expanding the testing, the Central Government had continuously alerted the states about the threat posed by the virus from time to time,” she tweeted.
कोरोना के खिलाफ चल रही लड़ाई की गति को तीव्र बनाए रखने एवं देश में बढ़ते मामलों को देखते हुए केंद्र सरकार द्वारा राज्यों को जनवरी से ही सावधान किया जा रहा था।
टेस्टिंग को बढ़ाने की सलाह के साथ-साथ केंद्र सरकार ने समय रहते राज्यों को लगातार सतर्क किया था।https://t.co/MdmLwUkGLL
However, her tweet highlighting the abject failure of the state governments to take the alarm raised by the Centre seriously did not sit well with the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Aam Aadmi Party, which resorted to making a disparaging remark against her.
Past instances of misogynistic attacks against Smriti Irani
BJP leader Smriti Irani has often been attacked by her critics with such disgraceful innuendos. In 2015, a former Assam Congress Minister’s allegedly derogatory remarks against Ms Irani, who was then the Union HRD Minister, had kicked up a massive political storm. Nilamoni Sen Deka, the former state Agriculture minister, reportedly said at a public meeting in Nalbari that many people refer to Smriti Irani as the second wife of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Congress supporter Tehseen Poonawalla, who is the brother-in-law of Robert Vadra, who in turn is the brother-in-law of former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, had posted a barrage of offensive and vulgar tweets attacking the BJP leader. The tweets targeting Smriti Irani stirred a furore after they were broadcasted on English news channel CNN-News18. Finding himself caught in an awkward situation, Tehseen quietly deleted those tweets.
Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government in Delhi bungled up the response to the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak
The tweet by the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Aam Aadmi Party comes in the wake of the resurgent coronavirus outbreak that has swept the country, especially the national capital, which is ruled by its party chief Arvind Kejriwal. Delhi has been amongst the worst hit by the renewed bout of the coronavirus outbreak as the city faced shortages of medicinal oxygen, key antiviral drugs, hospital beds amidst the rising number of COVID-19 caseloads. The Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government in Delhi has been accused of massively bungling up the response to the second wave of the coronavirus flare-up.
Even the hospitals in Delhi had accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of mismanaging the coronavirus outbreak and not providing a steady supply of oxygen to them, which resulted in deaths of patients who could have otherwise be saved if the Delhi government had competently handled the crisis.
There are significant concerns that the death tally in Gujarat is vastly greater than what is being admitted by the Government. A recent media report claimed that only 58 thousand people had died between March 1st and May 10 in 2020 but the numbers for the same period this year is 1 lakh 23 thousand.
The numbers are based on the death certificates issued during the same period, which reflect the numbers as stated above. Gujarat Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja has refuted allegations that the state government is undercounting Covid-19 deaths stating that death certificates alone cannot be the basis of such claims.
He said that registration of death certificates have gone online due to which there are chances that the same individual was registered twice. Furthermore, during the same period last year, there was lockdown in place that most likely delayed the registration of deaths.
There are more reasons why the number of deaths during the period mentioned may not be enough to paint an accurate picture of the circumstances in the state and why statistics from 2020 are not a reliable indicator.
Gujarat trends in previous years
Weirdly enough, for reasons not yet understood, there were significantly fewer deaths in 2020 compared to 2019. Times of India had reported that the state had recorded 3.74 lakh deaths in 2020 between January and November, at an average of 1,134 deaths daily, which was 10.8% less than all deaths in 2019. In 2019, 1,271 occurred every day on an average.
The death rate for the period in the current year is 1732 per day, which appears significantly higher than 2019 or 2020. But nevertheless, we will have to wait till the end of the year to figure out the excess deaths compared to 2020 and 2021.
The significantly higher death rate could be due to a seasonal upswing in deaths which could be normalised by the end of the year. However, it is to be expected that the deaths in 2021 will be significantly higher than 2020 and even in 2019 due to the Coronavirus pandemic as well as factors such as increasing population and others.
According to the Times of India report, Gujarat had recorded 3.68 lakh deaths in 2017, 3.93 lakh in 2018, 4.19 in 2019 and 3.74 lakhs in 2020 (between January and November). Based on simple calculations based on the yearly growth rate in the number of deaths, Gujarat was expect to have somewhere between 4,46,235 to 4,47,073 deaths in 2020 (barring the month of December). But as we know, the number was significantly lower than that despite the pandemic.
The figures compare data from January to November for comparison
If we take it as an estimate that the death rate will grow by 6.5% in 2021 from the estimated deaths in 2020 from January to November (which was significantly higher than the actual number of deaths), then in 2021, Gujarat is expected to suffer between 475240 and 476132 deaths barring December. That amounts to an average death rate of 1302 to 1304 deaths per day.
Since there is a pandemic underway, it is to be expected that there will be some amount of excess deaths this year. However, an average of 1732 deaths per day is quite high. The death rate during the period prior to the one mentioned and for the remainder of the year has to be seen before coming to any premature conclusion regarding the death rate in the state.
Cherry picking one particular period of the year when the virus was at its peak and concluding that it is normative of the situation in the state is not a valid metric. If that were the case, then someone else could cherry pick 2020 as his metric and reach the conclusion that the virus is not very dangerous.
The person in the hypothetical scenario would be as wrong as someone who looks at the current data for the period between March 1st and May 2021 and concludes that the situation in Gujarat is apocalyptic. India has taken quite a blow during the pandemic, yes, but caution has to be advised before drawing far reaching conclusions from limited data.
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation data
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation data on deaths provides some insights into the situation in the state. As per data available, between March 1st and May 10, 2021, 13593 death certificates were issued in 2021. The same for 2020 was 7786 and for 2019, 2018, 2017, the figure was 9950, 9866, 9319 respectively.
For reasons stated above, we cannot compare the current data with the same in 2020. Therefore, the correct comparison would be between the trends observed three previous years and the 2021. By the trends of previous years, if we assume that 10,100 people are expected to die during the period, a mere 150 increase over 2 years, then add it to the Covid-19 death in AMC as reported by the Divya Bhaskar (2126), then the tally adds to 12,226.
That figure is not too far off from the tally of 13593, the total number of death certificates as reported in the media. The total extra deaths amounts to 1367, that is, 19 additional deaths per day during the 71 day period on average.
It cannot be said for certain the precise cause for the extra deaths because it is known that hospitals were overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients, leaving very little space for those suffering from other disease for adequate treatment. Thus, quite clearly, allegations that the Gujarat government is vastly undercounting deaths do not appear to have a basis in fact when one looks closely at the data available.
A few weeks before the advent of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Modi government had alerted states about the imminence of a second wave in the country and had also issued advisories urging states to take immediate measures, reports Times of India.
Amidst the opposition parties’ allegations of laxity against the centre over the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hit back at the opposition parties asserting that the state governments, especially the states ruled by the opposition parties, ignored the risk of a second surge of infections even after the centre had warned them about the second wave of the pandemic.
The BJP has now put out details about how the Modi government alerted states about the possibility of a second wave and advisories issued to states to take necessary measures to tackle the pandemic.
Rebutting the opposition’s allegation, the BJP has said that time and again, PM Narendra Modi, in his interactions with chief ministers, had raised the issue of rising infections in certain parts of the country. The Prime Minister had also asked them to take measures to handle the surge, the BJP said. The party had also circulated videos of PM Modi’s meetings with various Chief Ministers on March 17, where he had alerted them about a fresh spike in infections and had asked them to take urgent steps before it was too late.
“We are confident about our Covid management, but our confidence should not become overconfidence,” PM Modi had said in one of the meetings and had urged states to become more proactive in order to contain the spread of the virus. He had insisted on states creating a micro containment zone to limit the spread of the virus.
In fact, PM Modi held six interactions with chief ministers, starting from September 23 last year till April 23 this year, to monitor the situations in the country. During such meetings, PM Modi had constantly asked Chief Ministers to focus on 60 districts with a high burden of cases and increase testing substantially.
“Moreover, the PM’s interaction with CMs on March 17 took place when India had only 30,000 new cases per day,” BJP said.
Opposition party Chief Minister’s skipped meeting to attend election rallies
The BJP also said that opposition CMs like West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel skipped these interactions as they were busy with assembly polls. In fact, Bhupesh Baghel had left his own state to stay in Assam ahead of the state assembly elections as he was leading the Congress poll campaign in the state.
Reportedly, the Modi government had also dispatched teams to various parts as soon as states like Maharashtra and Kerala after both states started showing a steady increase in people testing positive. Till March, the opposition-ruled states Maharashtra and Kerala accounted for more than 75 percent of cases in the country.
Attacking the Congress party over its criticism against the vaccination policy of the center, BJP said that the opposition party’s functionaries like Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari, spokesperson Randeep Surjewala and health ministers of Congress-ruled states, such as TS Singh Deo and Bana Gupta, promoted vaccine hesitancy by raising questions about the efficacy of Indian-made vaccines.
“India is in the midst of a pandemic. Its scientists raced against time to produce a vaccine. They were reviewed at different levels before being given emergency use approval so that lives could be saved. But the opposition, Congress, in particular, mocked it. Result: people died,” BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted, sharing videos of Congress leaders’ raising doubts against Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.
On Saturday (May 15), Dalit organisation All India Parisangh (AIP) sparked controversy by taking potshots at the Modi government using a 13-year-old image. The organisation was founded by Dalit activist and Congress leader Udit Raj.
In a tweet, AIP wrote, “Unke ‘Mann ki baat’ kyu sunna, jab Ganga pe terti lasho par bhi khamosh raha.” It loosely translates as “Why should we listen to PM Modi’s monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ when he is silent on dead bodies floating in the river Ganga?”. The Dalit organisation shared a picture of a dog mauling a human skeleton, along the banks of a water body. At the time of writing, the image was retweeted 167 times and had 463 likes.
Screengrab of the post by the All India Parisangh
By posting the image, the organisation tried to insinuate that it is a recent image showing the mortal remains of a Covid-19 victim whose last rites were not performed. Reports of bodies of Covid victims floating on Ganga river have emerged in the last few days, and All India Parisangh tried to say the image also shows such an incident.
What is the Truth?
It may be noted that the image posted by All India Parisangh has the watermark of Alarmy on it, an stock image platform. Popular Twitter user ‘Befitting Facts’ pointed out that the stock image from Alarmy dates back to February 20, 2008. The disturbing picture was taken by one Dinodia Photos RM and captioned, “Dog eating dead man on Varanasi ghat, Uttar Pradesh in India.” Given the picture dates back to 2008, it must be remembered that the BJP did not have its government at the Centre nor at the State level. And as such, the unfortunate incident is not the result of PM Modi’s negligence.
Screengrab of the image via Alarmy
Earlier, close to 100 unidentified and decomposed bodies were found floating in the Ganga, sparking fear among the locals in several districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. While 71 bodies were recovered from Bihar’s Buxar district, other 25 bodies were fished from Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district with locals suspecting them to be the bodies of Covid victims.
After Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, in a horrifying video, at least half a dozen corpses were seen floating in the Runj river in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh. Buxar police suspected the bodies might have floated from the neighbouring Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh. Authorities of both the districts were yet to confirm if the bodies were of Covid victims. As such, All India Parisangh seized the opportunity and shared a 13-year-old picture to blame the Modi government.
All India Parisangh compared Brahmins to pigs last year
Besides fake news, the Dalit organisation has been at the forefront of peddling Anti-Hindu hatred. It has time and again resorted to such vile derogatory casteist hurls targeting Brahmins, and resorted to the anti-Brahmin propaganda by posting an image of a pig wearing ‘Janeu’ – the sacred thread in July last year.
By openly propagating anti-Brahmin sentiments and comparing Brahmins to ‘pigs’, the Parisangh claimed that the Indian judiciary is only comprised of Brahmins. Expressing its contempt for the country’s judiciary, the Dalit organisation claimed that ‘Brahmin’ judges in the Indian courts only recommended fellow people from the community, who were then selected as judges by the third set of Brahmins. The derogatory comments were not only directed at the Brahmins of the country but also an attack on the independence of the judiciary.
The Israel Defense Forces have issued a statement over the demolition of the Al Jalaa Building that housed the offices of Al Jazeera and other international media houses. The IDF has said that the building was being used by Islamic terror group Hamas, making it a valid military target.
The IDF said on social media, “Hamas has turned residential areas in the Gaza Strip into military strongholds. It uses tall buildings in Gaza for multiple military purposes such as intelligence gathering, planning attacks, command and control, and communications.”
Source: Twitter
“When Hamas uses a tall building for military purposes, it becomes a lawful military target,” it added. It stated further, “The Israel Defense Forces struck a number of such buildings in recent days, but before we did so, we took steps to try and ensure that civilians would not be harmed.”
Significantly, the IDF said, “All the multi-story buildings targeted by the IDF were used for military purposes within each building.”
Earlier, Israel had demolished the Al Jalaa building that housed the offices of Al Jazeera and other international media houses. A warning had been provided one hour prior to the demolition. The demolition comes during a phase of heightened tensions between Israel and Palestine.
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar has been visiting the areas affected by post-poll violence in West Bengal and also meeting people who have fled to the neighbouring state of Assam due to attacks by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) goons. After visiting post-poll violence-affected areas in Nandigram in East Midnapore Saturday (May 15) morning, Dhankar urged Mamata Banerjee with folded hands to take immediate measures to prevent post-poll violence in the state.
Drawing attention towards the miseries of these victims of West Bengal post-poll violence, the Governor Twitted today: “Unimaginable post-poll violence @MamataOfficial. Terrified people with difficulty and fear @WBPolice and reprisals at hands of ruling party workers narrate indescribable woes of horror. Appeal CM to take urgent steps to restore their confidence in the worst post-poll violence”.
The governor posted a snippet where a group of distressed women sob as they recount their horrifying tales in front of the WB Governor.
Terrified people with difficulty and fear @WBPolice and reprisals at hands of ruling party workers narrate indescribable woes of horror.
Appeal CM to take urgent steps to restore their confidence in the worst post poll violence. pic.twitter.com/nh8J2f5hFp
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) May 15, 2021
Speaking to the media, Dhankar said: “I have never imagined that I will see such heart-wrenching violence in Bengal. Lakhs of people fled from their respective villages out of fear. Several houses were bombed, people killed, women were raped because they fearlessly voted while maintaining the decorum of our Constitution. India has never seen Bengal like post-poll violence before,” Dhankhar said.
“I would like to appeal to our Chief Minister that it is high time she should take note of the law and order situation as millions of people are suffering. They are sitting on a volcano. I do hope that she will attend to the situation,” he added.
West Bengal Governor visits a camp at Agomoni area of Dhubri in Assam
The Governor, who started his visit to violence-hit areas on May 13, had expressed similar angst yesterday, May 14 after he interacted with the refugees who were forced to take shelter in Assam after TMC thugs looted, vandalised and arson their houses, raped and killed their family members, forcing them to flee the state.
“Nothing can be more shameful for us than people of West Bengal taking shelter in other states,” Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said while visiting a camp at Agomoni area of Dhubri in Assam, where people from West Bengal have been camping post-poll violence.
‘One is made to pay with life and rights for voting’, Tweeted Jagdeep Dhankar after visiting Cooch Behar
Similarly, after visiting Cooch Behar on May 13 (Thursday), Jagdeep Dhankar had taken to Twitter to post a series of Tweets where he disparages the goons of the ruling dispensation of West Bengal who under the patronage of their supremo Mamata Banerjee, have been unleashing unimaginable atrocities against those who dared to vote against them in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
All day witnessed such tales of sorrow, grief and horror as victim after victim narrated horrendous post poll retributive violence incidents @MamataOfficial. Helpless victims in crossfire of police @WBPolice and ruling party workers. Will endeavor to deliberate with CM. pic.twitter.com/mwZqVgPdgy
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) May 13, 2021
Dhankar was distraught by the “tales of sorrow” which he said, “left no tears in his eyes”. “Never imagined severity of post poll retributive violence@MamataOfficial was much beyond. One is made to pay with life and rights for voting!”, rued the Governor.
He also informed that when he was on his way to Cooch Behar, a dozen ruling party workers stopped his convoy “with no fear of law and police”. “Such state of affairs @MamataOfficial!” Dhankar deplored.
Yesterday too, Dhankar shared a small snippet where a helpless old victim narrated her ordeal. “All day witnessed such tales of sorrow, grief and horror as victim after victim narrated horrendous post poll retributive violence incidents @MamataOfficial. Helpless victims in crossfire of police @WBPolice and ruling party workers. Will endeavour to deliberate with CM”, wrote Dhankar.
“History will judge the bureaucracy of West Bengal, police and administration… This is such an issue, where nobody has the right to play politics,” a visibly miffed Dhankar had told reporters.
Ignoring the ‘order’ of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Governor visited Cooch Behar district on Thursday and accused the state government of not doing anything to contain the post-election violence.
Mamata Banerjee, ‘orders’ West Bengal Governor to ‘refrain from surpassing CM’, latter hits back
It is pertinent to note here that the Governor’s decision to visit the post-poll affected areas had irked Mamata Banarjee, who a day prior to his scheduled visit had written to him advising him to “desist” from undertaking “field trips” and follow the established government protocols. She drew the Governor’s attention to one of her previous letters and asked him to ‘refrain from surpassing her and her ministers’ orders’.
The West Bengal Governor, in response to her letter had torn into Mamata Banerjee, categorically rejecting her ‘order’.
Condemning the rampant incidents of loot, arson, killings, rape and other horrendous acts against those in opposition to the ruling dispensation, the Governor urged the state CM to revisit her stance and commit herself to the constitution that she by her oath is obligated to uphold and follow.
A short time after issuing a warning that it will bomb the Al Jalaa building that houses Al Jazeera and other international media outlets in Gaza city, Israel has attacked and demolished the sky-rise.
Earlier today, the owner of a Gaza high-rise building where the offices of the AP, Al Jazeera and other media outlets are located, reportedly said that he received a call from Israel’s military, who warned him that his building will be targeted by an airstrike.
Tensions between Israel and Palestine escalates after Hamas launches aerial rockets at the Jewish nation
Hostilities between Israel and its nemesis Hamas is at an all-time high, especially after the intense aerial exchanges that started on Tuesday evening and continued well past midnight. On Tuesday, Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas unleashed massive airstrikes against Israel, firing hundreds of rockets inside the country. The country’s air defence system, popularly known as Iron Dome, intercepted the continuous barrage of rockets targeting Tel Aviv and central Israel.
Israel, in response, stepped up its attacks on the Palestinian terror group Hamas inside Gaza Strip. The Israel Defence Forces carried out airstrikes on targets in Gaza in response to continued attacks by Hamas against Israel. During the retaliatory strikes on Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike struck a high-rise office and residential building controlled by Hamas.
Earlier yesterday, Israel attacked and destroyed the underground network of the tunnel, dubbed as the “Metro” that was used by Hamas for deploying terrorists and smuggling weapons.
