

{"id":2502,"date":"2017-05-20T14:15:08","date_gmt":"2017-05-20T08:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/?p=2502"},"modified":"2017-05-20T14:37:43","modified_gmt":"2017-05-20T09:07:43","slug":"jean-dreze-indian-national-repeating-lie-will-not-change-fact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/jean-dreze-indian-national-repeating-lie-will-not-change-fact\/","title":{"rendered":"Jean Dr\u00e8ze is an Indian National, repeating a lie will not change the FACT"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Despite living in India for 37 years and being a citizen of India since 2002, Jean Dr\u00e8ze had to write a letter in 2016 to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.catchnews.com\/india-news\/jean-dreze-writes-letter-about-his-partner-bela-bhatia-1459103212.html\" target=\"_blank\">clarify<\/a> his citizenship position to those running a smear campaign against him. &#8220;<em>According to the leaflet mentioned earlier, I am a &#8220;foreign agent&#8221; (videshi dalal). In fact, I am an Indian citizen and I have spent more time in India than many of those who were distributing this leaflet yesterday. I love this country, where I have friends from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. In thirty-seven years of living in India, I have not faced hostility even once &#8211; until yesterday<\/em>&#8220;, wrote Dr\u00e8ze in a letter to Catch News. One year later false information is still being shared about his nationality.<\/p>\n<p>Jean Dr\u00e8ze is a Belgian-born Indian development economist and activist. His work includes areas of hunger, famine, gender inequality, child health and education, and the NREGA. He was a former member of UPA&#8217;s National Advisory Council for two terms. But the reason he is a target of a recent organised campaign is because he is the husband of the activist Bela Bhatia. DM Awasthi, DG Naxal Ops Chattissgarh, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ANI_news\/status\/865185181170257920\" target=\"_blank\">told<\/a> the press on May 18th that Podiyam Panda, who&#8217;s the former sarpanch of Chintagufa, had stated that Nandini Sundar and Bela Bhatia had met Naxal Commanders. It has been <a href=\"https:\/\/thewire.in\/135392\/chhattisgarh-podiyam-panda-illegal-custody\/\" target=\"_blank\">alleged<\/a> that Panda was illegally detained by Chattissgarh police since May 3rd and that Panda&#8217;s statements are a <a href=\"http:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/india\/maoist-nails-du-professor-top-activist\/articleshow\/58725824.cms\" target=\"_blank\">forced confession<\/a>. It is also being alleged that Panda is being targeted for his role in protecting human rights of the villages around Chintagufa.<\/p>\n<p>In a post truth world, many struggle with the concept of &#8220;facts&#8221;. Additionally, with the wave of nationalism, some also struggle with the concept of citizenship. They routinely call Indian citizens as Pakistanis and find it difficult accept foreign born Indians as Indian nationals. Citizenship however is not something open to debate. It is not a topic where there can be a difference of opinion. The passport is a proof. Like it or not, Dr\u00e8ze&#8217;s Indian citizenship is a fact. And as Moynihan, a US senator famously said, &#8220;You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Dr\u00e8ze is an Indian national since 2002. When asked recently in an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theweek.in\/theweek\/specials\/interview-jean-dreze-economist.html\" target=\"_blank\">interview<\/a>, how did it feel to give up his birth citizenship, Dr\u00e8ze had replied, &#8220;<em>It was one of the happiest days of my life.<\/em>&#8221; To the question, if India had offered dual citizenships, would his decision have been any different, he responded, &#8220;<em>I don\u2019t know. All I can say is that if the facility were offered to me today, I would decline. One citizenship seems enough.<\/em>&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In the last few days, several tweets have made a false claim about Dr\u00e8ze&#8217;s nationality and alleged that a foreign national was a member of the National Advisory council under UPA. This <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/shefvaidya\/status\/865057797188206592\" target=\"_blank\">tweet<\/a> by Shefali Vaidya, a columnist at <em>Swarajya<\/em> was retweeted over 1200 times at the time of writing this article: <em>&#8220;Jean Dr\u00e8ze, a Belgian national was a member of Sonia Gandhi&#8217;s NAC for two terms, while wife Bela Bhatia allegedly was communing w Maoists!<\/em>&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_011-1024x360.jpg\" alt=\"Shefali Vaidya: Jean dreze, a belgian national was a member of Sonia Gandhi&#039;s NAC for two terms, while wife Bela Bhatia allegedly was communig w Maoists!\" width=\"640\" height=\"225\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_011-1024x360.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_011-300x106.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_011-768x270.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_011-696x245.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_011-1068x376.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_011-1193x420.jpg 1193w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_011.jpg 1219w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A similar incorrect claim about Dr\u00e8ze&#8217;s nationality was also made by the film maker, Vivek Agnihotri, who called him a French national. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_012-1024x574.jpg\" alt=\"Vivek Agnihotri: What are Sonia Gandhi&#039;s confidants Bela Bhatia and her French husband doing in Bastar? Why is wire and toi defending Nandini?\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_012-1024x574.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_012-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_012-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_012-696x390.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_012-1068x599.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_012-749x420.jpg 749w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_012.jpg 1206w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The factual error in Vaidya&#8217;s tweet was pointed out by Sadanand Dhume, who <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dhume\/status\/865285375786438656\" target=\"_blank\">tweeted<\/a> &#8220;<em>I&#8217;m no fan of Dr\u00e8ze&#8217;s ideas, but as a factual matter he took Indian citizenship over a decade ago. In 2002 if I&#8217;m not mistaken.<\/em>&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_013-1024x519.jpg\" alt=\"Sadanand Dhume: I&#039;m no fan of Dreze&#039;s ideas, but as a factual matter he took Indian citizenship over a decade ago. In 2002 if I&#039;m not mistaken\" width=\"640\" height=\"324\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_013-1024x519.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_013-300x152.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_013-768x389.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_013-696x353.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_013-1068x542.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_013-828x420.jpg 828w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_013.jpg 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<em>It&#8217;s a factual matter. I&#8217;m presuming that @ShefVaidya made an innocent mistake, and am merely bringing it to her attention<\/em>&#8220;, tried Dhume <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dhume\/status\/865295513599574016\" target=\"_blank\">one more time<\/a> with no result. <\/p>\n<p>A few others also pointed out the misinformation being spread but to no avail. Twitter user, Paresh @hiparesh <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hi_paresh\/status\/865377591192158210\" target=\"_blank\">highlighted<\/a> that a false statement gets 1000+ retweets while a statement correcting it gets only one. While Vaidya engaged with another user, @sandeeproy1 by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/shefvaidya\/status\/865067553164451840\" target=\"_blank\">asserting<\/a> there are no rumours in her claim, she ignored repeated attempts by Dhume and others for a correction of the obvious factual inaccuracy in her tweet. She also threatened legal action against @sandeeproy1 for using the word &#8220;insinuation&#8221; in his tweet.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_014-1024x572.jpg\" alt=\"Which part are U calling a &#039;rumour&#039;? That Jean was a member of NAC, that he is married to Bela or that Bela allegedly was meeting Maoists?\" width=\"640\" height=\"358\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_014-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_014-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_014-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_014-696x389.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_014-1068x596.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_014-752x420.jpg 752w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_014.jpg 1202w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_015-1024x708.jpg\" alt=\"Shefali Vaidya either delete this tweet alleging insinuation n apologise or be prepared for legal action.\" width=\"640\" height=\"443\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_015-1024x708.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_015-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_015-768x531.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_015-100x70.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_015-218x150.jpg 218w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_015-696x482.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_015-1068x739.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_015-607x420.jpg 607w, https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/05\/Selection_20_05_2017_015.jpg 1191w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Finally Dhume <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dhume\/status\/865573784077697024\" target=\"_blank\">expressed<\/a> his disappointment with his tweet, &#8220;<em>We all make mistakes. But telling that @ShefVaidya won&#8217;t correct the record even after I pointed out that Jean Dr\u00e8ze is an Indian national.<\/em>&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Disagreement with Dr\u00e8ze and his worldview can surely be voiced without making fabricated claims about his nationality. An obvious lie has been widely shared even by those who know it is incorrect but don&#8217;t seem to have a problem with it. In a world of alternative facts, this is not even seen as unusual. But <em>Alt News<\/em> believes that falsehoods and fake news must be countered each and every time. One day it will make a difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite living in India for 37 years and being a citizen of India since 2002, Jean Dr\u00e8ze had to write a letter in 2016 to clarify his citizenship position to those running a smear campaign against him. &#8220;According to the leaflet mentioned earlier, I am a &#8220;foreign agent&#8221; (videshi dalal). In fact, I am an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":2508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"an_content_type":[],"coauthors":[117],"class_list":["post-2502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Jean Dr\u00e8ze is an Indian National, repeating a lie will not change the FACT - Alt News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Jean Dr\u00e8ze is an Indian National, repeating a lie will not change the FACT - Alt News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Despite living in India for 37 years and being a citizen of India since 2002, Jean Dr\u00e8ze had to write a letter in 2016 to clarify his citizenship position to those running a smear campaign against him. &#8220;According to the leaflet mentioned earlier, I am a &#8220;foreign agent&#8221; (videshi dalal). 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