Eyebrows raised as MPYC selects ISIS, Pak sympathiser as its spokesperson, media coordinator

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Mumbai: The recent July 11 appointment by Congress of one Latoya Ferns-Advani as Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) Spokesperson and Media Coordinator has raised some eyebrows.

That is because Latoya Ferns-Advani, who likes to write columns in Pakistani publications like Daily Times believes that the terror organisation ISIS should be legitimised by giving the ‘fighters’ their own state. In her tweets she has termed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as ‘certifiably insane’ over beef ban, expressed desire to visit Pakistan, showed support and sympathy for terror accused and argues that there is no evidence to suggest that Ram Mandir existed where Babri Masjid stood.

In the article appearing on the Pakistani publication Daily Time’s website, Ferns-Advani argues that by not identifying ISIS as a ‘state’ we are not able to distinguish between ‘combatants’ and civilians. Latoya has not only rechristened ISIS terrorists as ‘combatants’ but also as ‘fighters’.

She argues that “ISIS fighters” by not having to wear “identifiable fatigues” gives them the benefit of stealth and surprise attack. “Nevertheless, armed forces are still permitted to neutralise ISIS fighters as civilians directly participating in hostilities. Statehood for ISIS would aid counter-insurgency by obligating fighters to make themselves identifiable,” she adds.

Further, Latoya wants to ‘purge’ the word ‘terrorist’. She claims that ISIS is “embodiment of the US’s haphazard democracy promotion and hurried exit strategy”. In reality, ISIS promotes religious violence, and regards Muslims who do not agree with its interpretations as infidels or apostates.

As per Australian National Security (ANS) website, since its formation, ISIS has focused on capturing and consolidating its control over areas of Iraq and Syria by stoking sectarian tensions between, and within, Sunni and Shia; capitalising on Sunni disenfranchisement. The newly appointed MPYC spokesperson wants to legitimise this.

In the same article, Latoya justifies the brutality and barbaric beheadings carried out by ISIS by saying that “state-formation throughout history has been brutal — beheadings in public squares acting as deterrents in the absence of policing.” The OpIndia checked it twice and the article was not filed under satire and was actually written by her.

When it comes to social media platform Twitter, Latoya Ferns-Advani terms “BJP is certifiably insane” for the beef ban. Then flaunting hers being a Sindhi she expresses her desire to go to Pakistan.

In one tweet she yearns to go to Pakistan, and in the next slams Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a ‘stooge of Pakistan’s ISI’.  In one of her tweets she is accusing PM Modi of destabilizing Kashmir by abrogating Article 370 and destabilizing the North-East by bringing National Registry of Citizens (NRC).

Latoya Ferns-Advani also likes to show solidarity in one of her tweets for terror and riot accused. She also believes that there is no evidence of Ram Mandir being there on the site where Babri mosque once stood.

Latoya Ferns-Advani has studied at Durham University and University of Warwick if one to believe her LinkedIn profile which further describes her as a ‘media and policy strategist’. Well, to be fair to her, as per her LinkedIn profile, she currently works at office of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar.

Maharashtra Youth Congress spokesperson is a Mani Shankar Aiyar protégé. Mani Shankar Aiyar, as we know, also has a soft corner for Pakistan. In January this year, he had gone to Pakistan and criticised PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He has frequently lauded Pakistan and criticised India.

Disclaimer: This article was first published in OpIndia on July 24, 2020. We are merely reproducing its excerpts with editorial discretion.