Vote-Bank Vendetta: Political Row Erupts Over Influencer Sharmishta Panolis Arrest
A political row has erupted following the arrest of 22-year-old law student and social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli, with several leaders accusing the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of practicing 'vote-bank vendetta.'
Kolkata police arrested Panoli for allegedly making communal remarks while criticizing Bollywood actors for not speaking up on Operation Sindoor.
West Bengal BJP president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar termed Panoli's arrest as 'vote-bank vendetta' and a form of injustice.
"Sharmistha Panoli, 22, law student, arrested for a now-deleted video and a public apology. No riots. No unrest. Yet Mamata Banerjee's police acted overnight, not for justice, but for appeasement. But when TMC leaders insult Sanatan Dharma, call Jai Shri Ram a gaali, mock Maha Kumbh, and push communal poison — there's no FIR, no arrest, no apology. This is not justice. This is vote-bank vendetta. India is watching," Majumdar said on X.
Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari assured that the Nationalist Lawyers are taking up Sharmistha's matter and will provide her with the best legal defense.
"Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and influencer, made a personal comment in wake of the Pahalgam Terrorist attack where Hindus were targeted selectively, which she later deleted and apologized for, yet was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurgaon. @KolkataPolice, where is this same zeal when idols of Hindu deities are vandalized in West Bengal? When stone pelting happens on Ram Navami & Hanuman Jayanti Processions? I would like to assure everyone that the Nationalist Lawyers are taking up Sharmistha's matter, and the best legal defense will be provided to her. I hope that she will be free from the clutches of the vile & vicious Mamata Police," Adhikari said on X.
Andhra Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said Panoli had apologised for her remarks but was still punished, and he urged the West Bengal police to act justly.
"During Operation Sindoor, Sharmistha, a law student, spoke out; her words regrettable and hurtful to some. She owned her mistake, deleted the video, and apologized. The WB Police swiftly acted, taking action against Sharmistha. But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest? Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn't a shield for some and a sword for others. It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Act justly for all," Kalyan said on X.
As per media reports, the Kolkata police have filed an FIR against the influencer under sections 196(1)(a) promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community; 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens); 352 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace); 353(1)(c) (statements that incite public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 innocent civilians were gunned down in cold blood. Under Operation Sindoor, India hit nine terror sites inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), killing 100 terrorists.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
10 minutes ago
- India Gazette
"Pakistan aims to hinder our progress by fueling terrorism": BJP MP Brij Lal
New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): After completing a five-nation diplomatic visit, BJP MP Brij Lal, part of the JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha-led delegation, said, 'Pakistan aims to hinder our progress by fueling terrorism,' highlighting the ongoing challenges India faces from its neighbour. 'Our delegation went to five countries, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. The response from all the countries was good. We wanted to show that we are a peaceful country and we don't want war. We want only development. That week, we became the fourth-largest economy in the world. We are going to be the third in two years, and by 2047, we will be a 'Viksit Bharat,'' said Brij Lal. Addressing Pakistan's role, Brij Lal stated, 'Our neighbouring country wants to slow down our progress. They want peace to be disturbed here. This has been happening for the last 4 decades. Many people are asking for the proof... I told them that the IC814 flight was hijacked from Kathmandu in 1999 for the release of terrorist Masood Azhar and two other terrorists. The same happened during the 26/11 attacks, when we arrested Kasab... He had a fair trial in this country, and then he was sentenced to death. Now, we have brought Tahawwur Rana. In America, there is David Headley, who was sentenced to 30 years. During interrogation, he revealed that he had gone to Pakistan. So in this way, we have proof. All the cross-border terrorism that has happened is because of Pakistan... Who is the target? It's our Hindus. It was done to incite a communal problem in our country...' On 'Operation Sindoor,' the outreach initiative aimed at mobilising global opinion, Brij Lal added, '...We requested that condemning the attack would not do anything. Everyone has condemned the attack. Even Indonesia has condemned it... There is going to be a financial task force meeting. We told Malaysia to take action against Pakistan... Not grey, Pakistan should be kept on FATF's black list.' The all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha concluded their multi-nation visit, returning to India on Tuesday, 'very satisfied,' having accomplished the tasks entrusted to them to a 'great extent.' The delegation included BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi; TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee; CPI-M's John Brittas; and Congress leader Salman Khurshid. Their tour through Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore underscored India's commitment to regional peace, security, and development. (ANI)
India Gazette
10 minutes ago
- India Gazette
"We followed 'Rashtra dharma', Govt should follow 'Raj dharma'": SP MP Rajeev Rai demands special session of Parliament
New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai on Wednesday said that the government should follow the 'Raj dharma' and convene a special session of Parliament over Operation Sindoor. SP MP Rai was a part of an all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi, which travelled to Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain as part of a global outreach initiative to brief key nations on Operation Sindoor and India's counter-terrorism efforts following the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack. 'PM should have called the special session by himself. In 1962, when the war against China was at its climax, first-time MP Atal Bihari Vajpayee had demanded a special session mid-war. Nehru ji had called the special session then. But today, the same party is in power. You did not even announce the war. Call it conflict or counter-terrorist activity, the entire country stood with you. You asked us to go across the world and talk to them; we did it. We followed the 'rashtra dharma', but the government should follow 'raj dharma,' Rai told ANI. Mian Altaf Ahmad (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf were also a part of this delegation. Earlier today, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the INDIA bloc wanted to discuss the Pahalagam terror attack and not the action taken by the government during a special session of Parliament. He further stated that if the 16 opposition parties demanded a special session, then the same should happen. On Tuesday, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated the demand of the opposition parties and their leaders to convene a special session of Parliament upon the arrival of all-party delegations to discuss various issues, especially the developments that followed the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian armed forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The two countries then reached an understanding to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)
India Gazette
10 minutes ago
- India Gazette
"Response from all countries was good...": BJP MP Brij Lal after concluding 5-nation visit as part of JD(U) MP-led delegation
New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Lal on Wednesday said India sent a strong message of peace and development during a five-nation visit led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha. Brij Lal was a part of delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha which visited Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, where they received a warm response from leaders and citizens alike. Speaking to ANI about the delegation's visit to five nations, Brij Lal said, 'We wanted to show that we are a peaceful country and we don't want war. We want only development. Our delegation went to five countries, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. The response from all the countries was good.' The Indian delegation, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha, included BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi; TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee; CPI-M's John Brittas; and Congress leader Salman Khurshid, among others. The delegation's tour included stops in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore, underscoring India's commitment to regional peace, security, and development. In the context of Operation Sindoor and India's continued fight against cross-border terrorism, seven All-Party Delegations were constituted to visit key partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council. Union government said that the goal of All-Party Delegations was to project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations. 'They would carry forth to the world the country's strong message of zero-tolerance against terrorism,' Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said earlier on May 17. India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian armed forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The two countries then reached an understanding to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)
