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3 years of Modi govt: All is rosy in Imaginary India, who cares for the lynched when trolls rule?

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9 years ago

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3 years of Modi govt: All is rosy in Imaginary India, who cares for the lynched when trolls rule?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]All you see is garbage strewn around, cows and more cows and ATMs running out of cash but BMKJ!

Ranjona Banerji

There are two very distinct views on India right now. The first says that India has never done better and if life is not perfect yet, it soon will be. The other says that India has never been worse and the very idea of India is in peril.

If you look out of your window anywhere in India, the chances are that it looks pretty much the way it has always done. In this season, it is hot, dusty, garbage strewn here and there, construction debris lying around, uneven pavements, hanging wires, stray cattle, ATMs running out of money and so on. We all know where we are, why pretend it is otherwise?

But pretending is much easier than facing reality. Therefore many people on social media believe that an artist’s impression of how a bus station in Rajkot is going to look is the bus station itself, even if the foundation stone has barely been laid. Others, including Paresh Rawal, a famous actor who is also a BJP parliamentarian, read a diabolical invented interview with writer Arundhati Roy, which has been reposted through various dubious websites, and decide that she deserves to be tied to the front of an army jeep in Kashmir to deter stone throwing youths because she is evil and anti-national.

Once you pretend that any city in India looks like Singapore and all Indian villages look like those in the Cotswold, that India’s economy has never done better, that demonetisation ticked every box it was supposed to and caused no losses, then why should a digital illustration of something that does not exist or a false interview from a dubious source be so hard to believe?

The world of “fake news” is real and everyday on the internet. Sometimes, even legitimate newsrooms fall for totally invented pieces of news. WhatsApp, though it is unfair to blame the medium itself, is nonetheless rampant with all sorts of invented gunk, reminiscent of those endless “forwards” when email first began. Most of those re-circulated old jokes and even older prejudices. Now we have the same hatred peddled more frequently and evidently with more damaging effect.

It does not take long for invented “news” to heat up all those biases and start an upsurge of hate and violence on social media. That of course is the intention of fake news. And it provides ballast to trolls and abusers on the internet to target all those who do not agree with them.

It is increasingly difficult in one of the two Indias to stand up for due process or rule of law without getting abused or dubbed anti-national. The army major who tied a citizen of India to his jeep to deter “stone-pelters” in Kashmir is a hero and anyone who stands up for the rights of the man used as a human shield is disrespectful of the army and practically guilty of treason.

Much worse, of course, is the official silence on the collapse of rule of law in various Indian states. Mobs are dispensing “justice” and killing and thrashing people practically at whim. The incident in Jharkhand, where four men were beaten to death on suspicion of being kidnappers while the police watched, is not just horrific – it is frighteningly symptomatic of the other India. Mere lip service is paid to these crimes by politicians in power, while tears are shed for victims of terror attacks in other countries by the prime minister. BJP spokespersons condescendingly inform us that the prime minister cannot speak on every subject – the very argument the BJP mocked when the Congress used it for Manmohan Singh.

Meanwhile, in the first India, threats of rape on social media are seen as defendable examples of freedom of expression. Bollywood singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s Twitter account is suspended because of a rape threat he made to a student. This is not Bhattacharya’s first offence and he has been picked up by the police for his online behaviour. In solidarity, Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam closes his Twitter account, to stand up for Bhattacharya’s apparently inalienable right to threaten rape.

Yes, all is really going well in Imaginary India. Enjoy the bus ride from that station that doesn’t exist.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India News

Women’s quota bill fails in Lok Sabha as it falls short of two-thirds majority

Women’s reservation proposal failed in Lok Sabha after securing 298 votes, below the required two-thirds majority

Published

9 hours ago

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April 17, 2026

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Parliament

Government secures 298 votes in favour, 230 against; proposal does not pass constitutional threshold

The proposed amendment related to women’s reservation failed to pass in the Lok Sabha on Friday after the government could not secure the required two-thirds majority.

The bill received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, falling short of the constitutional threshold needed for passage. As a constitutional amendment, it required the support of at least two-thirds of members present and voting.

Despite securing a simple majority, the government was unable to gather sufficient support to meet this requirement.

Debate continues over two days

The discussion on the bill extended late into Thursday and continued on Friday, with members from both sides participating in the debate on women’s representation in legislative bodies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged members to support the proposal, calling for wider consensus on the issue.

Implications of the outcome

The failure of the bill underscores the challenges in securing broad political agreement on constitutional amendments, especially those related to representation and electoral reforms.

The proposal was aimed at advancing women’s representation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, an issue that has remained under discussion for several years.

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Rahul Gandhi faces FIR order as Allahabad High Court acts on dual citizenship plea

High Court allows plea in Rahul Gandhi citizenship case, paving the way for further legal process.

Published

12 hours ago

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April 17, 2026

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Rahul Gandhi

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has allowed a petition seeking legal action in connection with allegations related to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship status, marking a fresh development in the case.

The petition was filed by a political worker, who had approached the court seeking directions for registration of a case over claims that Gandhi may have held foreign citizenship. The High Court, while hearing the matter, passed directions for further proceedings in accordance with law.

The development comes after a special MP/MLA court in Lucknow had earlier declined to order registration of an FIR, reportedly observing that it lacked jurisdiction in matters concerning citizenship.

Background

The case is linked to allegations that Rahul Gandhi may have held British citizenship. Under Indian law, dual citizenship is not permitted. However, these claims remain part of the petitioner’s submissions and have not been established by any court.

During earlier hearings, the High Court had sought records and considered material presented by the parties involved.

What happens next

With the High Court allowing the plea, the matter is expected to proceed as per due legal process. This may involve examination by the appropriate authority and further judicial review at subsequent stages.

The case carries both legal and political significance given Rahul Gandhi’s role as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

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Pawan Khera faces fresh setback as Supreme Court refuses relief in passport row case

Congress leader Pawan Khera faces fresh setback as Supreme Court refuses interim relief and directs him to seek bail from Guwahati High Court.

Published

16 hours ago

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April 17, 2026

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Pawan Khera

Congress leader Pawan Khera suffered another legal setback on Friday after the Supreme Court of India declined to extend protection in a case linked to his remarks about Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife.

A bench of the apex court refused to interfere with an earlier order that had stayed the transit anticipatory bail granted to Khera by the Telangana High Court. This decision leaves the Congress leader open to possible arrest by Assam Police in connection with the case.

During the hearing, Khera’s counsel sought interim protection, but the court declined the request and advised him to approach the appropriate court in Assam for relief. The bench clarified that the Guwahati High Court should decide any bail plea independently and on its merits.

“Am I a terrorist?” remark during hearing

While seeking protection, Khera’s legal team expressed concern over the urgency of the situation. In court, his counsel remarked, “Am I a terrorist?” highlighting the plea for temporary relief until a fresh bail application could be filed.

The Supreme Court also raised concerns over the submission of incorrect documents during the proceedings, adding another layer to the legal complications faced by the Congress leader.

Case linked to remarks on CM’s wife

The case stems from a press conference held earlier this month, where Khera made allegations regarding the citizenship status and financial assets of the Assam Chief Minister’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.

He had claimed that she possessed multiple passports and owned undisclosed overseas properties. These allegations were strongly denied by the Chief Minister’s family, who termed them fabricated and misleading.

Legal battle intensifies

Earlier, the Telangana High Court had granted Khera temporary transit anticipatory bail, allowing him time to seek relief from a competent court in Assam. However, the Supreme Court stayed that order following a challenge by Assam authorities, escalating the legal battle.

With the latest ruling, Khera is now expected to move the Guwahati High Court for anticipatory bail as the case continues to unfold.

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