- Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned recently of giving up social media.
- It turns out he was playing a bluff.
- PM Modi’s social media gimmick is backfiring and comes at a sensitive time.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a hugely-followed figure on social media. The leader of the ruling right-wing Hindu nationalist BJP may be averse to press conferences, but he has built up a massive social media following across several platforms. So when PM Modi sent out a cryptic tweet hinting that he may quit social media this Sunday, his followers, critics, and opponents went berserk.
Gandhi’s tweet came in the light of the ongoing riots and
It took a long time for PM Modi to appeal for peace in India’s capital even as his party members were busy inciting violence through hate speeches .
Gandhi was not the only one to take a dig at PM Narendra Modi. Well-known Indian politician Shashi Tharoor had a far more radical take on the repercussions of Modi’s tweet. He Tweet:
At the same time, there were a few who had an inkling that he may not eventually quit.
In the end, it did turn out that PM Narendra Modi was indeed bluffing and pulled a fast one on social media users. He followed it up with a tweet clarifying his stand:
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The trolling does not stop
While millions of Modi followers would have heaved a sigh of relief at the PM’s decision, the trolling didn’t stop. He was accused of wasting time on social media gimmicks instead of focusing on actual issues such as the outbreak of the coronavirus strain Covid – This started rearing its head in India.
Meanwhile, PM Modi’s advertised hashtag – SheInspiresUs – is backfiring as people have started associating the same with women-led protests across the country or journalists critical of the Modi government.
Some even took a dig at PM Narendra Modi who is known for living away from his wife.
In all, the reactions to the PM’s latest social media gimmick have been quite entertaining. They have given netizens in India a much-needed break from the negativity arising out of coverage related to riots and communal tensions, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that the
(This article was edited by Samburaj Das
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