Matthias Boe, boyfriend of actress Taapsee Pannu, has appealed to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to ‘do something’ to help the actress currently under investigation by the Income Tax Department. In response, Kiren Rijiju has delivered what could only ever be construed as a ‘befitting reply’.
Law of the land is supreme and we must abide by that. The subject matter is beyond yours and my domain. We must stick to our professional duties in the best interest of Indian Sports. https://t.co/nIIf5C8TXL
Mathias Boe, coach of the Indian badminton doubles’ team, claimed that he was in a “bit of trouble” while representing India for the first time. Kiren Rijiju replied, “Law of the land is supreme and we must abide by that. The subject matter is beyond yours and my domain. We must stick to our professional duties in the best interest of Indian Sports.”
The Income Tax Department had on Wednesday raided 22 locations linked to director Anurag Kashyap, producer Vikas Bahl, Producer Madhu Mantena and actress Taapsee Pannu in connection with a tax evasion case.
The IT Department during the raids found cash receipts amounting to Rs 5 crores from the ‘leading actress’. Reports have also indicated that Taapsee Pannu evaded tax to the tune of Rs 25 crores.
A sexual harassment case has been filed against the National Book Trust editor – Rubin DCruz, for sexually harassing a woman in Delhi last year.
According to the reports, a Kerala-based woman who resides in Delhi has registered a complaint against the far-left journalist Rubin Dcruz, a former director of the Kerala State Institute of Children’s Literature. The complaint said Rubin DCruz allegedly molested her at his residence on 2 October 2020.
The woman also put up a Facebook post on the traumatic experience she had to undergo. In a Facebook post, the woman, who is an acquaintance of DCruz, shared her ordeal, saying that she got acquainted with the ‘journalist’ through common friends during her lookout for rented accommodation in Delhi.
The complainant alleged that DCruz had invited her to his house, promising to help her out. As she visited his house, Rubin DCruz allegedly sexually harassed, the complainant said.
“I had to see the real face of the left-progressive masked men who are waging a Facebook revolution about human rights and equality. The progressive, who had invited home for a meal in the name of acquaintance through public friends and Facebook, showed his true colour after a short friendly conversation. The next few days taught me how being physically violated can mentally debilitate even the strongest people,” the Facebook post of the victim read.
Surprised to see friends defending Rubin Dcruz, says complainant
Reportedly, the woman also said she was surprised to see that people she had considered friends defending Rubin after she failed a complaint. She said that her decision to file a case was a reaction against those who justify ‘such predatory behaviour of men, and tell women who have been through physical and mental pain to show mercy and humanity’.
In her post, she said her complaint was a reply to the friends of “progressive” men who are sexual predators.
The Kerala-based woman further said, “My sincere gratitude to the very few friends who stood by me through thick and thin, my family (including my 72-year-old mother) who told me to go ahead with courage and the support system, including the counselling team. One thing seemed right; leaving someone like him scot-free was an injustice to my fellow human beings as well”.
The sexual harassment complaint has been filed at Delhi’s Vasanth Kunj Police Station on 21 February 2021. Ingit Pratap Singh, DCP, South West Delhi, said that they have registered a case under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) against Rubin DCruz after the woman approached the police. Legal action as per the law is being taken, he said.
The police said both the accused and the victim, who is married, knew each other. The woman’s statement has been recorded, and legal action is being taken, the police said.
The Income Tax Department on Wednesday launched a raid at 22 locations linked to director Anurag Kashyap, producer Vikas Bahl, Producer Madhu Mantena and actress Taapsee Pannu in connection with a tax evasion case.
WhatsApp chat logs, emails, documents and computer peripherals were seized from various locations. Pannu and Kashyap who were shooting in Pune, have been questioned by the tax officers. According to the IT department, irregularities worth crores of rupees have been found in the ongoing raids. The IT Department during the raids found cash receipts amounting to Rs 5 crores from the ‘leading actress’. Since we know Taapsee Pannu was being raided, it stands to reason that the cash receipts have been recovered from Pannu. Reports have also indicated that Taapsee Pannu evaded tax to the tune of Rs 25 crores.
As the IT department carried out its corrective action against the aforementioned individuals, left-leaning liberals and assorted individuals have cried hoarse, jumping into the defence of the embattled celebrities and accusing the centre of unleashing vendetta against them for speaking up against the Modi government. Apparently, according to a liberal worldview, evading tax is completely kosher so long as the one committing it has disapproving views of the current dispensation.
Mathias Boe lobbying Kiren Rijiju to get the IT raids stopped against Taapsee Pannu
Nevertheless, many individuals have extended their support to Kashyap, Pannu and others, brushing aside the possibility that they might be guilty of evading taxes. One such individual is Mathias Boe, who is a coach of the Indian badminton doubles’ team. Boe, and who also apparently happens to be in a relationship with actor Taapsee Pannu, has taken to Twitter to urge Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to do ‘something’ about the IT raids going on against his girlfriend.
“Finding myself in a bit of turmoil. Representing ?? for the first time as a coach for some great athletes, meanwhile, the I-T department is raiding Taapsee’s houses back home, putting unnecessary stress on her family, especially her parents. @KirenRijiju please do something,” Boe tweeted.
Source: Twitter
By highlighting the fact that he is coaching Indian athletes and is distraught at the current happenings, Moe is insinuating that he may not be able to dispense his professional duty with diligence if the raids continue at Taapsee’s houses.
While it is expected that any committed boyfriend would come to the defence of his girlfriend, what is particularly appalling here is that Moe is using his profession as the coach of the Indian athletes to lobby the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju to get the IT department to back off from raiding Taapsee Pannu’s houses.
In fact, Moe’s tweet could even be considered as subtle blackmail, tagging the Sports Minister to get him to influence the IT department to stop the raids against his alleged girlfriend and asserting that he is not in the right mind while coaching the Indian badminton players.
Who is Mathias Boe and what is he doing in India
Mathias Boe is a Danish badminton player and former world number 1. He had retired in April 2020. He has been hired by the Indian government under Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) to specifically help three pairs – Shetty/Rankireddy, Rankireddy/Ashwini Ponnappa and Ponnappa/Sikki Reddy – qualify for the Olympics. Reportedly, Mathias is currently training Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy for the European Circuit which commences with the first round of Swiss Open in Basel.
Reportedly, Mathias Boe’s short contract is currently till the end of April and should a pair or more make it to Tokyo, the Dane will continue till the Games.
The Indian government should get rid of mentally weak coaches like Boe
A coach is expected to be mentally strong to impart the same skill to young athletes. Mathias, who seemed to be perturbed by the occurrences in his alleged girlfriend’s life, appears unfit to coach the Indian athletes. Instead, he is the one who needs coaching to keep his personal and professional life detached.
The Indian government should advise him to quietly do his job and stop interfering in administrative matters. If Moe still feels distressed that the IT department is raiding his alleged girlfriend’s house, which in turn is affecting his professional commitment, then the Indian government should not waste any moment in relieving him of his duty and scout for better coaches who are mentally strong and are unaffected by the vicissitudes of their personal lives.
The government should also send out a strong message to all the sports professional it employs that their job is to help and assist the Indian athletes to improve their on-field performances, and they should stick to their job. If they are found using their professional position as leverage to influence the legislators to interfere in the independent working of the Indian institutions, they would be instantly dismissed from their duties.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari once again lashed out at the country’s bureaucratic setup for causing delays in the execution of the projects and said that he has given up on them as they are averse to change.
Speaking on the issue of reforms in the infrastructure sector at the ‘Infranirbhar Bharat’ webinar, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that the government intends to bring massive transformation in the administrative setup of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to facilitate better infrastructure facilities in the country.
As he spoke to the experts and stakeholders of the infrastructure sector in the country, Minister Gadkari emphasised the role of the private sector in bringing much-needed reforms in the sector and added that the existing bureaucratic set up in the country is averse to major reforms.
Taking a dig at the non-performing officers and those who are not ready to change, the Union Highways Minister said that he has given up on those officers and does not intend to waste much time on them anymore.
“Mein in logon se haar gaya hoon (I have given up to such people) and now I don’t waste much time,” the minister said at the webinar.
Private sector needs to be involved, says Minister Gadkari
Stressing on the need to involve the private sector in the infrastructure sector, Minister Nitin Gadkari said a committee of experts from the private sector and government sector would be appointed to recommend norms for designs, quality of work, and promotion of new technologies in highway and bridge construction.
“People who get salary on first of every month never understands the importance of time. Making delays is going to be a big problem,” said Nitin Gadkari as he indirectly hinted at the delays caused by bureaucrats and senior officers working in the government.
Union Minister Gadkari said that after years of experience in dealing with the bureaucracy, he noticed that it is difficult to change them in the present system. He also lashed out at the consultants preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) for failing to do due diligence. The minister added they are equally responsible for delay in the execution of projects and highways lacking adequate provisions for all road users’ safety.
“Now we have decided that any DPR prepared by a consultant will be placed before the panel for its approval only after the regional officer concerned has validated it by visiting the sites,” Gadkari said.
Nitin Gadkari – a vocal critic of existing bureaucratic setup
Union Minister Gadkari has time-and-again criticised the inordinate delays caused by the bureaucrats in the execution of the project. In a similar incident, Gadkar had once gone all guns blazing against the bureaucrats, exposing them for their “perverted ideology”, “unworthiness”, and “corruption”.
Addressing an NHAI meeting, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had expressed his unhappiness over delays in the completion of the building and had roasted the officials for delays in completing projects.
Taking a swipe at the NHAI officials, Gadkari said, “During a ceremony like this, the convention says that one should congratulate people involved in the completion of the project. But I don’t know how I should do that. The plan of the construction of the building was ready by 2008, and in 2011 it won the tender for the construction. It took 9 years for the completion of this Rs 200-250 crore project. It took two central governments and 8 chairmen to ensure that the work is completed.”
Gadkari was visibly unhappy that the NHAI was celebrating the organisation’s mediocrity as the project, which should have been completed in 2-3 years, took more than 9 years for its completion. It is to highlight this inefficiency that the Union Minister made sarcastic jibes at the organisation and those responsible for this predicament.
India has earned goodwill by supplying Covid-19 vaccines to countries across the world, including small and economically struggling nations. Leaders from the countries which have received Covid-19 vaccines from India are praising India’s efforts for reaching out to them to help during a global crisis. India had supplied 464.29 lakh made-in-India Covid-19 vaccines to 47 countries as of Thursday. Out of these doses, 71.25 lakh were supplied as a gift and 393.04 lakh were supplied commercially.
recently, WHO chief Dr Tedros had hailed India’s efforts in supplying vaccines that have made over 60 nations around the world start vaccinating healthcare workers and other priority groups in their respective countries. Dr Tedros had added that he hopes other nations will follow India’s example.
Thanks ?? & Prime Minister @narendramodi for supporting #VaccinEquity. Your commitment to #COVAX and sharing #COVID19 vaccine doses is helping 60+ countries start vaccinating their #healthworkers and other priority groups. I hope other countries will follow your example.
India’s vaccine outreach to Caribbean countries such as Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, St Kitts &Nevis, St Vincent & Grenadines and Antigua & Barbuda has been much applauded. Allen M Chastanet, the PM of St Lucia had thanked India for donating 25,000 doses.
Thank you to Prime Minister @narendramodi and our friends from India for donating 25,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine to Saint Lucia???? pic.twitter.com/afWoQVZMtd
— Allen M. Chastanet (@allenmchastanet) March 1, 2021
World leaders express gratitude for receiving the Covid vaccine from India
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne thanked India for supplying the vaccines to the country terming it an act of benevolence and empathy. Praising PM Modi Broene said, “PM Narendra Modi has demonstrated perhaps the most significant act of benevolence, kindness and certainly empathy” that “we would have seen in the recent times, compared to any act of any other leader globally”. He added, “I have to admit that this is easily one of the most notable acts of benevolence that we have seen in the last 100 years”.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley tweeted to express gratitude towards PM Modi. She thanked PM Modi and wished him good health.
PM Modi @narendramodi made it possible for more than 40K persons in Barbados and tens of thousands elsewhere, to receive their 1st dose of COVISHIELD via #VaccineMaitri before receiving his. A genuine demonstration of generosity. Thank you and we wish you continued good health. https://t.co/1z1QGo6xQf
A special thanks to India was included by Caribbean countries in a resolution adopted by the Organisation of American States (OAS) which is a group of 34 countries including the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani also thanked India for providing vaccines to the country. When Afghanistan started its vaccination drive with healthcare workers and Afghan military personnel, President Ghani said, “India, the world’s largest democracy and the largest producer of vaccines, not only provided the house of Parliament of Afghanistan and the dams that are the pride of this country but also partners with us in terms of securing the lives and livelihood”.
India is a caring nation and an example of international cooperation: CARICOM
The permanent envoy of CARICOM, a group of 15 Caribbean countries, to the OAS permanent council, Ambassador Ronald Sanders called India a caring nation and an example of international cooperation. “India has demonstrated that it is a caring nation and is an example to the world in international cooperation at a time of global crisis. Further, India has not sought to extract any conditions for its generosity to countries that have no vaccines. India will be remembered by the Caribbean with great gratitude”, said Ambassador Sanders as reported by WION.
Eleven countries including African countries of Ghana, Ivory Coast, Congo, Angola, Nigeria, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan and one ASEAN country Cambodia have received the India-made vaccines under the COVAX facility.
Before that, India started its Vaccine Maitri initiative by donating millions of doses to friendly neighbouring countries. Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Maldives, Mauritius and Madagascar are among the nations who have received vaccines gifted by India.
A group of Indian Sikhs were attacked in Harris Park in Sydney, Australia on Sunday night. They said that a group of unidentified men stopped the vehicle they were driving in, pulled out hammers, baseball bats and wooden sticks and attacked the vehicle as the victim tried to get away.
A local Australian news channel, 7News aired the CCTV footage of the incident, where a vehicle was seen fleeing a group of men appearing to be armed with wooden bats. The car was reported to be severely damaged in the attack, with the windscreen smashed in multiple places and also deep gouges into the car’s panelling. The victims somehow escaped but were chased and attacked again, the channel reported.
According to reports, the attack left the car with more than 10,000 Australian dollars in damages.
“They bashed the car from all sides,” a victim was quoted by 7News as saying. “Anyone could’ve got killed’, they added. The victim alleged that they were targeted because they were wearing turbans.
Officer of the New South Wales Police Force confirmed to a British newspaper The Independent that the driver of the vehicle, a 23-year-old youth, was allegedly attacked with wooden bats and hammers by the group of unknown assailants.
Khalistanis create ruckus in Canada over farm laws, insult Indian flag
According to news channels, the Australian authorities have increased patrolling on the streets of Sydney and have been working on the option of deporting people of the Indian community who have lately been creating a ruckus on the streets of Sydney over the Indian farm laws.
Only recently, Canadian-Indians who had organised a rally to celebrate India-Canada ties were attacked by pro-Khalistani elements who not only hurled abuses at them and ask them to ‘go drink urine’, but also insulted the Indian National Flag.
In one of the videos shared by REACH (Race, Ethnicity And Culture Heritage), the USA and Canada Chapter, a Hindu community member living in NDP’s leader Jagmeet Singh’s constituency, expressed her ordeal of constant abuse and threats posed by pro-Khalistani elements in Canada. She requested the NDP leader to take cognisance of the situation of the Hindu community living in his constituency. She said, “We are facing atrocities. They are boycotting Hindu businesses. There are slogans of Khalistan everywhere. Please help us in stopping all this.”
She further added that it is his responsibility to ensure the safety of all communities in his constituency. She said, “Please stop supporting Khalistan for once and put a stop on abuses Hindus are facing. It is wrong. And if you do not want to support Hindu businesses, at least start keeping a beard and wearing turbans so that we can also distinguish between Hindus and Sikhs like you.”
Since the day farmer protests erupted in India, the pro-Khalistani elements in India and Canada have been using the protests for their own propaganda. They are not only using the protests to lure the Sikh youth back towards militancy but also causing communal disharmony. The Hindus living in Canada face security threats at the hands of such elements as the pro-Khalistani voices have strong support from the political parties in Canada. Similar situations have come to light in the USA and the UK where Khalistani elements, with the support of ISI and other anti-India forces, are becoming a threat to the Hindu community.
Calling for an objective investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, India has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to remain cognizant of the dangers of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorist groups. Speaking at the UNSC on Thursday, the Deputy Permanent Representative-Political Coordinator of India to the UN, R Ravindra said that the activities of terrorists, particularly ISIS have increased in the region.
In its address at the UNSC, Indian highlighted that terrorism remains the biggest threat to the human rights that are “fundamental to human beings, including freedom of thought, expression, association, and right to life liberty and security”. India said that it has always been at the forefront of global counter terrorism efforts.
India supports capacity building & technical assistance programmes extended to member states by UN Counter-Terrorism Centre including for building their capacity to promote & support human rights while countering terrorism: India’s statement at UNHRC session
To highlight its efforts to counter terrorism, India referred to an eight-point Action Plan that was presented by the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the UNSC in January this year. “India supports capacity building and technical assistance programme extended to the member States by the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre, including for building their capacity to promote and support human rights while countering terrorism, under Pillar 4 of UN’s Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy”, India said in its statement.
India called for a peaceful resolution of the Syrian conflict
India, which earned a non-permanent seat at the UNSC in January this year, urged the countries not to link humanitarian and development assistance with politics. It emphasised the need for an impartial and objective investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons. “Terrorist activities, especially ISIS, have increased in the region. We call for a comprehensive and peaceful resolution of the Syrian conflict through resource development”, said R Ravindra at the UNSC. He pointed out how India has contributed to restoring normalcy and rebuilding Syria through humanitarian assistance and human resource development.
“India has provided USD 1 million to the OPCW (Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) Trust Fund for activities relating to the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria. Continued cooperation between Syria and the OPCW Technical Secretariat is critical for the early resolution of all outstanding issues”, he added. India expressed hope at the UNSC that the consultations between Declaration Assessment Team and the Syrian authorities will help in addressing the reported gaps and inconsistencies.
The BJP has upped its ante, ahead of the upcoming State Legislative elections in West Bengal. While the party is expected to announce its list of candidates for the polls, rumours are rife about heavyweight BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari contesting against incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in his bastion of Nandigram.
“Ami Nandigram e Mamata Banerjee ke harabo (I will defeat Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram),” Adhikari announced recently at a political rally. He further said, “Stay assured that I will defeat her. If my party pitches me as a candidate opposite her, then, I will defeat her directly. Even if someone else is fielded in Nandigram, I will still ensure her defeat.”
It must be mentioned that Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee had informed on January 18 about her desire to contest from the Nandigram constituency. Banerjee, who had earlier contested from the Bhabanipur constituency, said, “Ami e jodi Nandigram e darai toh kemon hoi (How will be if I contest from the Nandigram seat?) This is my wish and desire.”
Mamata Banerjee’sNandigram outreach’ and the challenge of Suvendu Adhikari
She added, “I am not neglecting my Bhabanipur seat. We are not ignoring the constituency. We will field a good candidate from there. Telling Bakshi (party member) to include my name for Nandigram.” In response, Suvendu Adhikari said, “If I can’t defeat her by half lakh votes, I will quit politics,” he declared in Kolkata. Adhikari, a former member of the TMC, has been one of the main architects of the Nandigram movement, had helped Mamata Banerjee led TMC to overthrow the 34-year left rule in the state.
For the uninitiated, Nandigram is the epicentre of the 2007 farmers’ movement that propelled Mamata Banerjee to power in the state 10 years ago. In fact, over the years Adhikari emerged as one of Trinamool’s top brass because of his clout in Nandigram. The Chief Minister’s return to Nandigram is being seen as a direct challenge to Suvendu Adhikari, who had led an exodus of Trinamool leaders to the BJP over the past few weeks. While the uncertainty continues over the decision of Mamata Banerjee to contest from Adhikari’s bastion of Nandigram, TMC workers have begun ‘house hunting’ for her stay in the area.
House-hunting for Mamata Banerjee underway in Nandigram, ahead of polls
“We have zeroed in on two houses, which seem to be suitable for Mamata Banerjee to stay in Nandigram. While one belongs to former defence personnel, the other belongs to a teacher,” a TMC leader informed. BJP leader Agnimitra Paul said, “The TMC may search for two houses or four houses for Mamata Banerjee. She would be defeated this time…” The Election Commission of India had announced an eight-phased Assembly poll for West Bengal beginning March 27. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
The 23-year-old Ayesha, who jumped to the Sabarmati river to end her life after recording a video, had spoken to her husband before taking the extreme step. The Gujarat Police said that Ayesha took the extreme step after her husband asked her to die and send a video of the same.
According to the reports, the Ahmedabad Police has recovered a 70-minute call recording, in which it has been revealed that Ayesha spoke to her husband Arif before ending her life. In the 70-minute audio recording, Ayesha and Arif were also heard speaking about the dowry case.
In the audio, Ayesha was heard speaking to her husband, who yelled at her, saying, “Go die and send me a video of your death”. The police have recovered Arif’s mobile phone that revealed Ayesha spoke to him for more than an hour before ending her life.
Ayesha had committed suicide by jumping into the Sabarmati River in Gujarat on February 25, after facing harassment by her husband, whom she had married in 2018.
Husband harassed, talked vulgar to girlfriend in her presence
A week after Ayesha’s death, more details had emerged that revealed former’s husband Arif had an extra-marital affair with a Rajasthan girl. Ayesha’s husband Arif use to call up his girlfriend and indulge in vulgar conversations with her in the presence of his wife, Ayesha, reports have said. Despite harassment from her husband, Ayesha decided to remain quiet and not confront her husband.
Reportedly, Arif had confessed to Ayesha that he had another woman in his life and had maintained that he would not leave her for Ayesha. Earlier in 2020, Ayesha had also filed a dowry harassment case against Arif and his family at the Vatva Police Station in Ahmedabad.
As Arif continued to harass Ayesha, the 23-year-old decided to end her life by jumping to the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad. Ayesha recorded the video where she announced her decision to commit suicide. The video of the incident had created a shock wave across the country.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Police have arrested absconding accused Arif Khan from Pali in Rajasthan. The accused and his family have obtained bail in the case.
The assembly elections in Kerala is only a month away and Congress’ troubles have already started mounting. According to reports, 4 leaders from Rahul Gandhi’s constituency Wayanad have called it quits and some are set to join the CPI (M) in the state.
Those who resigned from the party in the past one week are Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) secretary M.S. Viswanthan, Mahila Congress state secretary Sujaya Venugopal, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) general secretary P.K. Anil Kumar and KPCC member K.K. Viswanathan.
Congress leaders M.S. Viswanathan and Sujaya, who have quit Congress from Wayanad are reportedly set to join the CPIM. Sujaya, taking a dig at Congress, said that he had not been given his due consideration during the last two assembly elections in Kerala.
Vishwanathan, another tall leader who quit the Congress said that he was miffed that the Kuruma community was not represented adequately in the ticket distribution.
“Kuruma community has been neglected in seat sharing exercise. I have the support of my community. The posts of DCC president and the legislator are held by one person. I had already expressed my dissent much earlier”, he said.
The troubles of the Congress party in Wayanad does not end there. According to a report in The Indian Express, former DCC president A V Gopinath has threatened to contest against Youth Congress state president from Palakkad Shafi Parambil. He has said that he was informed that he would act as the DCC president but since that decision has been torpedoed, he will quit the party if a decision is not reached within 2 days. If the Congress party fails to retain Gopinath, their troubles in Kerala would only mount. Reportedly, Gopinath is a member of Peringottukurussi panchayat and if he quits, there are 11 members of the panchayat who have decided to quit with him.
While Congress crumbles in Kerala and especially, in Rahul Gandhi’s star constituency of Wayanad, their state leaders have now claimed that the crisis has been averted and that there would be no further resignations. Given the importance of Wayanad for Rahul Gandhi and Congress, leaders had rushed to the area to ensure that tempers are calmed and the impending embarrassment to the party and Rahul Gandhi is averted. However, the current spate of resignations only seems to be the beginning of the fall of Congress and Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad.
Right before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from the Wayanad constituency had not gone down well with the CPI(M) which had mocked Gandhi for his decision by calling him “Pappu”. CPI(M) leader and former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had also labelled the Gandhi scion as “Amul Baby”.
In Kerala, Rahul Gandhi and his Congress had, at the time, allied with Indian Union Muslim League. The IUML is a successor of the All India Muslim League that had demanded the partition of India and was successful in doing so. The party was found involved in the planning as well as the execution of the brutal Marad massacre in Kerala in 2003 as per the report of Justice Thomas P Joseph Commission which was set up to investigate the incident. The report had declared the massacre as “a clear communal conspiracy, with Muslim fundamentalist and terrorist organisations involved”.
