Lawrence Bishnoi poster in rally: In an unexpected display, several youths in Vijayapura, Karnataka, paid tribute to the infamous gangster Lawrence Bishnoi during the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations. A video of the incident is now surfacing across various social media platforms, where a man can be seen waiving a poster which has face of Lawrence Bishnoi on one side while face of Bhagat Singh on the other.Bishnoi, who has a staggering 85 criminal cases to his name across Punjab, Mumbai, and Canada, was recently appointed as the head of the youth wing of the All India Bishnoi Animal Protection Samaj.In #Karnatakas #Vijayapura, some youth glorified gangster #LawrenceBishnoi during the #KannadaRajyotsava procession. pic.twitter.com/MGsJb1sefq— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) November 4, 2024Lawrence Bishnois recently became national headThe Bishnoi community in Abohar held a meeting on Tuesday, where they unanimously selected Bishnoi for the position. According to the appointment certificate issued by Inderpal Bishnoi, the head of the Bishnoi Samaj, Lawrence Bishnois new role focuses on promoting and upholding the Bishnoi principles of animal and environmental protection. It will be his responsibility as national head to carry forward the work and responsibility of protecting animals and the environment, the certificate read.This appointment is also intended to honor the Bishnoi legacy, including the sacrifice of Amrita Devi and 363 community members who gave their lives protecting Khejari trees in Rajasthan in the 18th century.Controversy surrounding his appointmentThe decision to appoint Bishnoi, who is currently imprisoned in Gujarats Sabarmati Jail, has stirred significant controversy. He is implicated in high-profile cases such as the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and the killing of Mumbai-based realtor and politician Baba Siddique. Additionally, Canadian authorities have linked him to the murder of Khalistan leader Hardeep Nijjar in Surrey last year.In a video statement, Ramesh Bishnoi, Lawrences uncle, shared that the Bishnoi community specifically requested his appointment. However, this move has raised concerns over allowing an individual with a serious criminal background to represent a cause traditionally focused on peace and conservation.What is the current status of Lawrence BishnoiBishnoi, now in his early thirties, hails from Dutranwali village in Abohar. His new role as a leader for animal protection has sparked a broader conversation on the connection between crime and community leadership, especially considering his ongoing incarceration and criminal history.
