Chennai Super Kings, the IPL Franchise, on Wednesday suspended its official team doctor, Dr Madhu Thottappillil, for mocking the Indian soldiers martyred at the Ladakh standoff by hands of Chinese army.
On Tuesday, after the news of the Indian soldiers losing their lives while fighting Chinese forces in Galwan valley, Ladakh broke, when people expressed shock and anger, Dr Madhu Thottappillil, who was the official team doctor of the Chennai Super Kings, joked whether the coffins of the martyred soldiers will come with a “PM CARES” sticker on them.
Tweet by Dr Mathu Thottappillil (image courtesy: @sircaustick on Twitter)
In a bid to make fun of the PM CARES fund which is being utilised to manufacture ventilators amid the Chinese coronavirus outbreak, Thottappillil made the distasteful comment.
Following this, Chennai Super Kings, on Wednesday, regretted the tweet which was in poor taste and said that they have suspended his services.
The Chennai Super Kings Management was not aware of the personal tweet of Dr. Madhu Thottappillil. He has been suspended from his position as the Team Doctor.
Chennai Super Kings regrets his tweet which was without the knowledge of the Management and in bad taste.
“The Chennai Super Kings Management was not aware of the personal tweet of Dr. Madhu Thottappillil. He has been suspended from his position as the Team Doctor. Chennai Super Kings regrets his tweet which was without the knowledge of the Management and in bad taste,” Chennai Super Kings said in a tweet.
Ladakh standoff at Galwan Valley
A violent face-off took place between Indian and Chinese troops on the intervening night of 15th and 16th June which led to casualties on both the sides. While India has confirmed 20 casualties, the Chinese authorities have not given official figures. However, it is believed that the casualties of Chinese troops would be above 40.
Newly-released access-to-information documents have revealed shocking details of how a shipment of deadly pathogens from Canada’s National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg was received by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, months before the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. It is being reported that the delivery of 15 different lethal pathogens was made in May 2019.
According to a report by CBC News, the scientist who was responsible for exporting the pathogens to China was sacked after an investigation in July last year. Dr Xiangguo Qiu, the person who was allegedly behind this delivery, was terminated from Canada’s only level-4 lab over what the lab called a possible “policy breach”. Earlier it was reported that Canada had dispatched Ebola and Henipah viruses to the Wuhan lab.
The documents show that a total of 15 different virus samples were sent from Canada to the Chinese laboratory, each in two vials. The pathogens were:- Ebola Makona (three different varieties), Mayinga, Kikwit, Ivory Coast, Bundibugyo, Sudan Boniface, Sudan Gulu, MA-Ebov, GP-Ebov, GP-Sudan, Hendra, Nipah Malaysia and Nipah Bangladesh.
The documents accessed by CBC show that Canadian scientists were about the send the virus samples in an incorrect packaging on a commercial Air Canada flight on March 31, 2019. But correct packaging was used only after the Chinese side pointed out that Canadians are using the wrong packaging to ship the deadly pathogens.
Canada denies connection between the virus shipment and coronavirus outbreak
The Canadian Lab has, however, said that the shipments had nothing to do with the coronavirus outbreak and moreover it said that the termination of the Chinese scientist, Dr Xiangguo Qiu from the Winnipeg lab was also not related to the shipment.
The chief of media relations for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, Eric Morrissette, wrote in an email: “The administrative investigation is not related to the shipment of virus samples to China.
“In response to a request from the Wuhan Institute of Virology for viral samples of Ebola and Henipah viruses, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) sent samples for the purpose of scientific research in 2019.”
Along with PHAC, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has also denied any connections between the pandemic and the virus shipments. There is no evidence linking this shipment to the spread of the coronavirus. Ebola is a filovirus and Henipa is a paramyxovirus; no coronavirus samples were sent.
Despite the Canadian media reports, the Chinese side has also never officially disclosed any information about the alleged virus transfer from Canada.
Despite clarifications, experts are not convinced. Amir Attaran, a law professor and epidemiologist at the University of Ottawa, was quoted by CBC News as saying: “It is suspicious. It is alarming. It is potentially life-threatening.”
Experts displeased by the Canadian Government’s decision to export the pathogens to China
Alarmed by the act, Amir Attaran said that the shipment was sent to the Chinese lab knowing that it has links to the Chinese military: “What we know is that before she was removed, she sent one of the deadliest viruses on Earth, and multiple varieties of it to maximise the genetic diversity and maximise what experimenters in China could do with it, to a laboratory in China that does dangerous gain of function experiments. And that has links to the Chinese military,” Attaran said.
Talking about the “gain of function experiment”, in which a natural pathogen is taken into the lab, made to mutate, and then assessed to see if it has become more deadly or infectious, the law professor furthered: “The Wuhan lab does them and we have now supplied them with Ebola and Nipah viruses. It does not take a genius to understand that this is an unwise decision. I am extremely unhappy to see that the Canadian government shared that genetic material,” said Attaran.
Though the Canadian officials have consistently denied any connections between the COVID-19 pandemic and the virus shipments and stated that there is no evidence linking the shipments to the spread of the coronavirus, given the fact that the pandemic is said to have originated in Wuhan, news of the “policy breach” is a cause of concern. Especially considering that the revelation has come during the time when the diplomatic relationship between China and the West remains volatile.
While America has repeatedly blamed China for its campaign of “disinformation” related to the coronavirus, Tobias Ellwood, an MP of the United Kingdom, in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, said: “COVID-19, if it’s done anything, it has woken up the world to this rather aggressive and concerning the objective of China wanting to quietly advance its own influence across the world.”
An ancient temple of Lord Nageswara was unearthed in Penna River near Peramalla Padu village in Chejarla Mandal of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. The temple was reportedly buried in the sand.
A local said that the temple was well known some two-three generations ago. The temple was filled up with sand almost 80-years ago. As per reports, some villagers took the initiative to find out the temple. It took them one day to discover the pinnacle of the temple.
A resident of Perumallapadu village, Vara Prasad said, “This 200-year-old temple was quite popular among the villagers. The elders of our villagers told us that this shrine was filled with sand 75-80 years ago. Later, those villagers shifted to the other side and the temple was also ruined.”
He added, “Then, one day a man Galipala Sudarsan initiated to bring this temple out. The sanctum sanctorum is much deeper and the area in which it was found is Mukha Mantapam. We are now planning to reconstruct the temple but where it should be made is the dilemma. We have to check the condition and status of Lord Shiva’s Idol. We will seek advice from the elders and the priests.
The efforts are on to bring out the temple from the depth of the river bed.
500-Year old Gopinath temple emerges from the Mahanadi waters
Prior to this, a 500-year-old Gopinath temple emerged from the waters of Mahanadi during an ongoing project by the Mahanadi Valley Heritage Site Documentation Project by INTACH under which the remains of this temple were spotted and documented. The ancient submerged temple was discovered in the Mahanadi upstream from Cuttack.
At one time there were 22 temples at this place and all of them submerged into the river after water levels rose. When the water level is low, you can see the front of the Gopinath temples as it was one of the biggest temples of that time.
1100 year old monolithic Sandstone Shivling unearthed in Vietnam
The Archaeological Survey of India unearthed an 1100-year-old monolithic sandstone Shivling during its conservation project at Vietnam’s Cham temple complex in My Son Sanctuary. The structure dates back to the 9th century.
The 9th-century fully intact Shivling is part of a complex of Hindu temples which were constructed by the Champa Empire between 4th century CE and 13th century CE in My Son sanctuary, in Quảng Nam province, central Vietnam.
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar who shared the news on Twitter termed it as ‘Reaffirming a civilizational connect’ and applauded the Archeological Survey of India for its efforts.
Electronics giants Samsung and OnePlus have announced that they will produce televisions in India. According to a report published in Economic Times, the two leading international electronics brands have announced that they will start manufacturing most of their television sets in India.
Both companies have partnered with Chinese electronics firm Skyworth that has its manufacturing plant in Hyderabad. Skyworth runs its operations in India as a joint venture with an Indian partner. For the time being, they will produce 32-inch and 43-inch television sets in the Hyderabad plant.
India can potentially become the next manufacturing hub
After the Covid-19 spread that started in China, the supply chain got disrupted for many companies across the world that had their manufacturing plants in China. Many brands have decided to move their plants to other nations. India is one of the leading choices for many brands.
Samsung has announced that it will reduce the number of TVs imported from plants in other countries and manufacture up to 90 percent of all the company sales in India. On the other hand, after the launch of its televisions in India, OnePlus has announced domestic production in the country.
Samsung has announced that it will expand its association with Dixon Technologies to produce smart TV variants from 43-inch to 58-inch in India. As of now, Dixon is already manufacturing 32-inch and 43-inch television sets for the company.
Local manufacturing will help in increasing profits
One of the main advantages these companies will get from manufacturing open cell TV panels in India is the zero duty component. It will help the companies increase their profits, and the Indian customers will eventually benefit from the price too. In 2018, the Korean giant Samsung moved out of its manufacturing unit from India after the government imposed duties on open cell panels. The finished product was being imported from Vietnam through a free trade route. Last year the Indian government decided to reduce the duty and brought it back to zero. OnePlus is currently importing televisions from China.
Leading television brands like LG, Xiaomi, Panasonic, and Sony already have manufacturing plants in India.
Haryana Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar announced on Tuesday that he will bring a Right to Freedom of Religion Bill to prevent religious oppressions and conversions on Dalit Hindus reported in Mewat.
CM Manohar Lal Khattar during a meeting at the auditorium of the Secretariat made some important announcements related to the suffering of Hindus. This includes a bill against religious conversion by force, inducement or through marriages solemnised for the sole purpose of adopting a new religion. The Right to Freedom of Religion Bill will have provisions against conversion by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, inducement, marriage or any fraudulent means.
The CM said that while one has the right to adopt any religion, conversion by force, inducement, etc. aren’t tolerable. CM ML Khattar also said a board would be constituted to look after the “religious assets of Hindus in those areas where they are in minority. This work would be done according to the demand of the people of the area concerned”.
He also added that the existing cow protection law in Haryana will be made more stringent, if required. The CM said that the issue of cow slaughter often creates wedge & disharmony between 2 communities, and the state Govt has decided to hold trials against accused in cow slaughtering cases in fast-track Courts in a bid to curb such incidents.
The announcements made after the meetings include:
Anti-conversion law will be enacted to stop conversion and love jihad.
Cow slaughter cases will be heard in the fast track courts. Necessary amendments will be made in the current law is there is a need to punish cow killers severely.
A battalion of RRBs will be set up at Nuh (Mewat), to assist the re-establishing the state of the law in Mewat.
A board will be created to protect the establishments belonging to Hindus which have been acquired by the perpetrators.
VHP welcomed the decision
The statement from the CM ML Khattar to prevent the atrocities on Hindus going on for decades in Mewat has been welcomed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. For some time, the VHP had created a grudge against the Khattar government due to this matter. But now the organization is satisfied with the announcements of the Khattar government and describing it as an important decision for Hindus.
In the recent press release, VHP saluted the Hindu society, media channels, and other allies. Also, VHP’s Joint Secretary Dr. Surendra Jain said that these announcements will be implemented soon by the CM so that those who are suffering will get relief.
— Vishva Hindu Parishad -VHP (@VHPDigital) June 17, 2020
Significantly, during the lockdown, there was an unprecedented increase in atrocities against Hindu Dalits in Haryana’s Mewat. In such a situation, VHP thanked a section of Hindu society and media for raising voice against atrocities on Hindus. They said that the decision taken by the government is the result of their efforts.
VHP has termed this announcement as a victory for the Hindu society and said that it expects that the announcements will be executed sooner.
Earlier, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has expressed displeasure over the attitude of the Khattar government for not adopting a strict attitude on the incidents of oppression and conversion of Dalits. VHP alleged that even after the delegation met the CM in the month of May, the state government neither filed any case against the accused nor took any kind of action.
On Tuesday, a video went viral on Twitter in which a man was being forced to drink urine. The netizens tagged Rajasthan police and chief minister. Police started the investigation after learning about the video and found the victim in the video. According to the reports, the 20-year-old man was from Pali district. He was abducted and take to Sardapura village in Sirohi. He was beaten and forced to drink urine.
Rajasthan: A man was abducted by a group of people and was forced to drink urine allegedly over an affair with a woman, in Sirohi. Police say, “The incident took place on 11th June. Six accused have been arrested. Appropriate action will be taken against them”. (16.06.2020) pic.twitter.com/uVAGh5U9VP
As per reports, police officials said,” The accused wanted to teach him a lesson for being in love with a woman of the same community.” Police had registered an FIR in Sumerpur police station in Pali district on Monday night. The incident took place on 11th June. In the complaint filed by the victim, he mentioned eight names and police had detained six accused.
Speaking to ANI, ASP Rahul Koteki said,” The victim is a resident of the Sirohi area and he was staying with a relative. When the victim came, we registered an FIR and rounded up six accused who, as it is being informed, beat up the victim and also made him drink urine.”
Similar incidents earlier
This is not the first time such incidents took place. On 12th June, a 16-year-old boy was stripped naked and brutally beaten for stealing a goat in Jhalawar.
In 2018, a young couple in Madhya Pradesh’ Alirajpur district was also beaten and forced to drink urine as a punishment for marrying against the wishes of their families.
Commanding Officer of the Chinese Unit was amongst those killed by the Indian soldiers in the violent face-off in Galwan valley of Ladakh on the intervening night of June 15 and 16. News agency ANI quoting sources said that the increased movement of the helicopter from Chinese side showed that the Chinese suffered significant casualties. And while it is difficult to ascertain the exact number, the sources believe the casualty on the Chinese side is “much beyond 40”.
Earlier today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with the three service chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force and the Chief of Defence Staff.
Four more Indian soldiers are critical after the violent face-off with Chinese troops in Galwan, Ladakh on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. News agency ANI quoting sources reported about the critical condition of the four soldiers.
Meanwhile, as reported by Economic Times, the government has given the powers to the Armed Forces to make emergency procurement and stock up the war reserves. This comes in the backdrop of India initiating dialogue with China over deescalation of the situation. ET further reports that Navy has been given a go-ahead to deploy its assets near Malacca Strait as well as anywhere else in the Indo-Pacific to counter the Chinese forces if needed.
ET reports that Air Force Assets have also moved up forward locations.
On Tuesday, the Indian Army released a statement stating that casualties have been suffered by both sides in “violent face-off” during the de-escalation process with China in Galwan Valley, Ladakh. On Tuesday, government sources confirmed to news agency ANI that India is reported to have suffered 20 casualties and 43 Chinese soldiers have been deemed casualties in the stand-off.
Statement issued by MEA on the India China stand-off
“India and China have been discussing through military and diplomatic channels the de-escalation of the situation in the border area in Eastern Ladakh,” a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. He added that senior commanders had a meeting to on June 6 wherein they agreed on a process of de-escalation.
“India has always maintained that its activities are within the Indian side of LAC. While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley”, read the official statement by MEA.
Confirming that both sides suffered casualties, the statement read that on the late-evening and night of 15th June, 2020 a violent face-off happened which could be avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side.
“Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. We expect the same of the Chinese side. We remain firmly convinced of the need for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” read the statement.
Col Bikumalla Santosh Babu of the 16th Bihar Batallion had laid down his life in the clash between Indian and Chinese forces in Galwan Valley on June 16. As per a report in Times of India, upon hearing the news about col B Santhosh Babu’s demise, B Upendra, his father, did not cry. Though visibly shaken, he held up his demeanour.
He said,” I was always aware that one day I could hear what I heard today, and I was mentally prepared for it. Everyone dies but it is a privilege to die for the country and I am proud of my son.”
The grieving father proudly narrated stories about his bravery and told how Col Santosh had fought terrorists in Kupwara and received a commendation for his exemplary service. He said he had encouraged his son to join the army from a young age. He knew the dangers involved in the line of duty. When he was young, Col Babu had joined the Sainik School at Korukunda in Andhra Pradesh and had eventually committed his life to the uniform.
The last conversation
As per the TOI report, on 14th June, when the parents asked Col Santosh about the border skirmishes during a brief call, he said,” I am not supposed to tell you anything. You should not ask me that. We can talk when I am back with you”.
During the telephonic conversation, the officer had reportedly told his parents that what they are listening on news channels is drastically different from the reality on the ground. The father said, “Little did we know that it would be his last call to us. Everyone has to die. But dying for the country is a big thing and we are proud of our son.”
B Upendra further added that he wanted to join the Army but he could not. When his son was 10-years old, he started telling him that he should think about serving the country by joining the armed forces. Col Babu studied in Sainik school from class VI to class XII and later joined NDA, followed by IMA. He had served in many sensitive locations, including Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
Exemplary 15-years of service
In 15-years, Col Babu had got four promotions. His parents wanted to see him in higher positions. Upendra said that he was aware of the uncertainties involved in the army and they are proud that their son made the ultimate sacrifice.
Col Santosh’s body will arrive at Shamshabad airport on Wednesday and travel to Suryapet by road, where his last rites will be performed.
Col Santosh was married and his wife is living in Delhi with a 3-years old son and 8-years old daughter. His wife, Santoshi, was the first to learn about his demise. His parents, Upendra and mother Manjula, are currently living in the Suryapet town of Telangana. His mother was waiting to meet him soon. She had reportedly asked Col Babu to get transferred to Hyderabad so that he can live closer to the family. She said,” I am happy that he gave his life for the country, but as a mother, I am devastated. I have lost my only son.”
Mother of Col B. Santhosh Babu who was martyred in #IndiaChinaBorder says she lost her only son but she is proud of him as he was martyred as a Hero for the country. pic.twitter.com/IPow8QKWAu
Col Babu had reported back to duty near Leh only a month ago after the lockdown was relaxed.
Last rites to be performed in hometown
As per the latest reports, the martyred colonel’s last rites will be performed in Suryapet, Telangana. His wife and children had earlier arrived in Hyderabad by a flight from Delhi. Telangana CM K Chandrasekhara Rao had earlier commemorated the soldier. He had informed that Energy Minister G Jagadeesh Reddy will be resent on behalf of the Telangana government at the last rites of the family.
On Tuesday, several Muslim social media users descended on the timeline of News18 journalist Amish Devgan to threaten him of severe consequences and issued death threats by reminding the journalist of the brutal murder of Kamlesh Tiwari.
News18 journalist Amish Devgan in a news debate had allegedly made objectionable remarks against Sufi saint of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Moinuddin Chishti, who is popularly known as Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz.
I urge Indian Muslims to file FIR against this anchor for his defaming remark on great Muslim sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti رح#ArrestAmishDevganpic.twitter.com/5iklOjln96
In the news debate, Devgan was seen referring to Chishti as an invader who had tortured and forcefully converted the Hindus of India. Devgan later apologised saying that he had mistakenly named Chishti in place of Allauddin Khilji.
Incidentally, Amish Devgan also took to Twitter on Tuesday to apologise for his remarks on social media. He said, “In one of my debates, I inadvertently referred to ‘Khilji’ as Chishti. I sincerely apologise for this grave error and the anguish it may have caused to followers of the Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti, whom I revere. I have in the past sought blessings at his dargah. I regret this error.”
Devgan stated that he had pronounced ‘Chishti’ in place of Khilji and it was an inadvertent error.
Amish Devgan on Twitter
Islamists threaten Amish Devgan
Following his remarks, Islamists attacked the journalist and abused him for making such remarks against the Sufi saint. Various social media users targeted the journalist and reminded him of the death of Kamlesh Tiwari, who was brutally murdered by some radical Islamists in October 2019 over his 4-year old remarks on Prophet Mohammad’s sexuality.
Islamists were seen using the threat of Kamlesh Tiwari’s brutal murder on Amish Devgan, insinuating that he will also meet a similar end.
Islamists on Twitter asked Amish Devgan to apologise for his remarks or be ready to be killed like Kamlesh Tiwari. One user named Zuned Qureshi was seen stating that Kamlesh Tiwari was ‘killed like a dog’ because he had insulted Prophet Mohammad. “If you do not apologise on your TV show you better be prepared for a similar end,” he wrote.
A user named Mohammad Daud Ashraf said that Devgan had indulged in a similar incident as Kamlesh Tiwari, however, the journalist apologised after being aware of the death of Tiwari.
Complaint registered against Amish Devgan
Following the incident, a police complaint has also been registered against News18 journalist Amish Devgan for insulting Moinuddin Chishti on his show which was aired on 16 June.
Multiple complaints have been filed against Devgan. Another user named Zameer Ansari has stated that he has filed a complaint against Devgan with the Mumbai police.
Controversial Islamic organisation Raza Academy, which is known for its involvement in the Azad Maidan riots, has also filed a complaint against Amish Devgan under section 295A, 153A, 34,120B,505(2) and Disaster management act for making insulting remarks against Moinuddin Chisti.
In an attempt to discredit Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, assorted Twitter handles bearing allegiance to the Congress party, including official Twitter handles of the state Congress units and Congress functionaries, launched a well-coordinated social media campaign to trend #Yogi_Ka_Ghotalaraaj on the micro-blogging website on Tuesday.
Irregularities in the recruitment process of 69,000 assistant teachers in Uttar Pradesh
The social media campaign launched by the Congress party was in regard to the recruitment process of 69,000 assistant teachers that was allegedly plagued with gross irregularities such as several candidates at two examination centres with the exact same marks, a topper who couldn’t name India’s President and a host of arrests for allegedly cheating.
While the UP CM had constituted a Special Task Force(STF) to probe the allegations of widespread rigging in the examinations of the for teacher posts in the state’s primary schools, it has not stopped the Congress party from accusing the Yogi Adityanath government of indulging in malpractices and corruption.
Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra termed the alleged scam as “UP’s Vyapam”, a reference to the medical recruitment scam in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier this month, Priyanka tweeted, “The scam in recruitment of 69,000 teachers is UP’s Vyapam scam. The facts about the matter reveal that the irregularities in the case are not common. Diary entries related to student names, monetary transactions, large-scale manipulation in examination centres etc. denote the involvement of a well-oiled racket in this scandal. The entire information also shows that the racket’s links are connected to many (higher) places.”
69000 शिक्षक भर्ती घोटाला उप्र का व्यापम घोटाला है। इस मामले में गड़बड़ी के तथ्य सामान्य नहीं हैं। डायरियों में स्टूडेंट्स के नाम, पैसे का लेनदेन, परीक्षा केंद्रों में बड़ी हेरफेर, इन गड़बड़ियों में रैकेट का शामिल होना – ये सब दर्शाता है कि इसके तार काफी जगहों पर जुड़े हैं। 1/2
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) June 8, 2020
The Supreme Court had on 9 June stayed the recruitment of 37,339 of the 69,000 vacancies but permitted the government to fill up the remaining 31,661 seats. Later on June 13, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad court lifted the stay on the appointed of 69,000 assistant teachers in Uttar Pradesh, provided the state government reserved 37,339 jobs for Siksha Mitras, who are currently holding temporary jobs, in compliance with the June 9 order of the apex court and till the top court passes a final verdict.
The High Court’s partial lifting of the interim stay did not sit well with the Congress party who upped the ante to corner the Yogi Adityanath government which is currently engrossed in tackling the coronavirus spread in the state. Various Congress functionaries, official Congress Twitter handles of different groups and state units and Congress supporters on Twitter started tweeting with #Yogi_Ka_Ghotalaraaj to sully the integrity of the Yogi Adityanath government and project it as an administration steeped in corruption.
The UP Congress’s Twitter account listed down a host of alleged scam that the Yogi government had presided over in Uttar Pradesh. A graphical image shared by the UP Congress mentions recruitment of 69,000 teachers, PDS scam, PWD scam, School shoes and socks scam, DHFL scam, Homeguard scam and Panchayati Raj scam to allege that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is neck-deep in corruption. The tweet was shared with the hashtag #Yogi_Ka_Ghotalaraaj.
Tweeting with the hashtag #Yogi_Ka_Ghotalaraaj, the official Twitter handle of Chhattisgarh Congress unit raised questions over the transfer of IPS Prayagraj who was instrumental in exposing the large-scale rigging in the recruitment process of 69,000 teachers in Uttar Pradesh. The INC Chhattisgarh Twitter account also shared an infographic depicting the IPS officer and Yogi Adityanath which read, “Yogi has just one job-to dismiss the honest and safeguard the corrupt”.
Yogi government promised jobs to the youth but when it comes down to giving them employment, the IPS who blew the whistle on the scam on more than 69000 positions was transferred. All this in the land of Lord Rama!#Yogi_Ka_Ghotalaraaj
Even Congress functionaries heeded to the propaganda campaign organised to besmirch the Yogi government. NSUI General Secretary Vishal Chaudhary took to Twitter to claim that the UP government promised the youth to provide employment but when one of the IPS officers blew the whistle on the faulty recruitment process of 69,000 teachers, he was transferred by the state government.
Yogi government promised jobs to the youth but when it comes down to giving them employment, the IPS who blew the whistle on the scam on more than 69000 positions was transferred. #Yogi_Ka_Ghotalaraaj
Another Congress functionary Ashok Singh tweeted that the transfer of the IPS officer who brought to the light the teacher recruitment process reveals that the UP BJP government along with CM Yogi Adityanath are involved in the scam.
Yogi Adityanath has suspended the officer who had exposed the entire teacher recruitment scam, it shows that the UP BJP Govt and CM Yogi is involved in this scam. #Yogi_Ka_Ghotalaraajpic.twitter.com/71ntiqeWDS
Jitendra Mall, the National Social Media Coordinator of the NSUI, shared an infographic with the hashtag #Yogi_Ka_Ghotalaraaj and contended that it’s a norm under the BJP rule to threaten and subdue the whistleblowers with suspensions and transfers.
— Jitendra Mall Official (@JITENDRAMal_INC) June 16, 2020
The official Twitter account of NSUI Uttarakhand also partook in the social media campaign by sharing an infographic that read “Under the Yogi rule, the education department has become a hub of corruption” along with the hashtag #Yogi_Ka_Ghotalaraaj.
Besides, a raft of Congress functionaries and Congress supporters on Twitter posted a flurry of tweets in this regard along with a wide range of infographics, presumably in an attempt to trend the hashtag #Yogi_Ka_Ghotalaraaj.
Truth about the social media campaign
While the Congress leaders and functionaries would have us believe that the social media campaign on Twitter exposing the alleged corruption of the Yogi government was entirely organic and spontaneous, the document accessed by OpIndia reveals that the social media campaign was a well-coordinated attempt by the Congress IT cell to malign the perception of Yogi Adityanath and his government on social media.
Services of a Digital marketing organisation–Kunsh Digital were availed by the Congress IT cell.
Email sent out to Congress IT cell to organise an inorganic social media campaign on Twitter
The above email instructing the Congress functionaries and IT cell members to launch a social media campaign on Twitter was sent by a Digital Marketing firm – Kunsh Digital, meaning that the social media campaign to besmirch the Yogi Adityanath government was professionally managed and the Congress IT cell must have presumably hired the agency for carrying out the vilification campaign against the Uttar Pradesh CM.
According to the email, specific instructions were issued by the Congress’ propaganda machinery to the IT cell warriors and party functionaries to tweet with the hashtag #Yogi_Ka_Ghotalaraaj along with the directive of using images attached in the email in the given time-slot. A list of sample statements targeting Yogi government on corruption was also provided to the online army of trolls which could be used by them in the tweets against the UP government. The members of the IT cell were issued particular instructions to retweet the tweets put out by the UP Congress and the INC Chhattisgarh Twitter account.
List of tweets provided by the Congress IT cell to its online army
Drawing on from the list of samples and template tweets that could be used to target the Yogi Adityanath government, the online army summoned by the Congress IT cell followed the orders issued to them and unleashed its inorganic social media campaign against the Yogi Adityanath government.
List of tweets provided by the Congress IT cell to its online army
The infographic images which were used by various Congress functionaries and the Congress IT cell army in their tweets were also attached in the mail with directives to be used in the tweets smearing the UP CM as venal.
Ever since Yogi Adityanath has assumed the mantle of Uttar Pradesh, he has been lauded for restoring law and order in a state that was conspicuously absent following Samajwadi party’s previous tenure in the state. Besides, Yogi government has also come forth as an administration averse to the depraved practices of corruption and graft. In addition, Yogi’s exceptional handling of the coronavirus crisis in a humongous state such as Uttar Pradesh speaks to the extraordinary leadership that he has displayed in the times of adversity.
The desperation of Congress IT cell to coordinate a social media campaign to cast the Yogi Adityanath as a corrupt chief minister speaks volumes about the unimpeachable integrity of the UP Government perceived by an average social media user. The deliberate attempt by the Congress IT cell to drag the Yogi Adityanath and his government through the mud prove that the charges of corruption against the UP government were so flimsy that the IT cell had to rely on the loyalty and obligation of its paid army rather than banking on the scandalous allegations for them to trend on Twitter organically.
