‘No Air Warrior By Name Of Squadron Leader Vishal Randhawa in IAF’: Government Issues Clarification

“The IAF dissociates itself from the views expressed by the Twitter account @V_Randhawa_ (https://twitter.com/V_Randhawa_ ),” the Defence Ministry said in a release. The clarification came after a Twitter account posing to be IAF Squadron Leader Vishal Randhawa came to the fore.

Representational Picture (AFP)

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Defence on Monday issued a clarification stating there is no air warrior by the name of Squadron Leader Vishal Randhawa in the Indian Air Force (IAF) either serving or retired.

“The IAF dissociates itself from the views expressed by the Twitter account @V_Randhawa_ (https://twitter.com/V_Randhawa_ ),” the Defence Ministry said in a release.

The clarification came after a Twitter account posing to be IAF Squadron Leader Vishal Randhawa came to the fore.

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The account, which follows 454 people on the micro-blogging platform and has 402 followers, has been retweeting posts from the IAF, Indian Army, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Press Information Bureau (PIB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and other government handles.

However, this account has some controversial posts like calling journalist Rana Aayub a “traitor” and calling JNU activist Umar Khalid “a virus”, which appear to be triggering debate and unnecessary controversy.

“In case you missed it - give this woman a traitor of the decade award ! Traitor Rana,” the account posted on Sunday.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In case you missed it - give this woman a traitor of the decade award ! Traitor Rana <a href="https://t.co/ZxawJNOsk7" rel='nofollow'>https://t.co/ZxawJNOsk7</a></p>&mdash; Sqn Ldr Vishal Randhawa (@V_Randhawa_) <a href="https://twitter.com/V_Randhawa_/status/1386076396473098245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>April 24, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Cant believe ,even virus getting infected with parasites. Stay positive Umar Khalid!” said a tweet posted earlier in the day.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cant believe ,even virus getting infected with parasites. Stay positive Umar Khalid!<br> <a href="https://t.co/sxIuBsCtG3" rel='nofollow'>pic.twitter.com/sxIuBsCtG3</a> <a href="https://t.co/q0uNIUbtnt" rel='nofollow'>https://t.co/q0uNIUbtnt</a></p>&mdash; Sqn Ldr Vishal Randhawa (@V_Randhawa_) <a href="https://twitter.com/V_Randhawa_/status/1386457161941716995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>April 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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Besides, this Twitter handle also appears to be profoundly engrossed in the West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS) exams urging that offline examinations should be postponed.

“#WBUHS is conducting offline BAMS exams in West Bengal where #covid19 cases are rising perpetually. The triple mutant virus found here is not enough for the university to realise it's high time to take precautions. @wbdhf take online #BAMS exam and save students life,” the account posted.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WBUHS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>#WBUHS</a> is conducting offline BAMS exams in West Bengal where <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/covid19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>#covid19</a> cases are rising perpetually. The triple mutant virus found here is not enough for the university to realise it&#39;s high time to take precautions.<a href="https://twitter.com/wbdhfw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>@wbdhfw</a> take online <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAMS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>#BAMS</a> exam and save students life. <a href="https://t.co/kD7bFS5JUS" rel='nofollow'>https://t.co/kD7bFS5JUS</a> <a href="https://t.co/fD7OG3RkGR" rel='nofollow'>pic.twitter.com/fD7OG3RkGR</a></p>&mdash; Sqn Ldr Vishal Randhawa (@V_Randhawa_) <a href="https://twitter.com/V_Randhawa_/status/1386235456627507202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>April 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Hon'able Governor of West Bengal Sir Jagdeep Dhankhar @jdhankhar1 West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS) is conducting BAMS offline exams during peak high pandemic situation. Kindly take actions to stop it Students life important,” said another post.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hon&#39;able Governor of West Bengal Sir Jagdeep Dhankhar <a href="https://twitter.com/jdhankhar1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>@jdhankhar1</a><br>West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS) is conducting BAMS offline exams during peak high pandemic situation. Kindly take actions to stop it Students life important<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengalUniversityofHealthSciences?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>#WestBengalUniversityofHealthSciences</a> <a href="https://t.co/SzWCCtEg8J" rel='nofollow'>pic.twitter.com/SzWCCtEg8J</a></p>&mdash; Sqn Ldr Vishal Randhawa (@V_Randhawa_) <a href="https://twitter.com/V_Randhawa_/status/1386243919738859527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>April 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>