Ashish Joshi, a civil servant in the Department of Telecommunications, has become a new target of right-wing trolls after he reported an inflammatory video posted by rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra to the Delhi Police. Joshi had taken a dim view of Mishra’s video calling for entering the homes of actors Kamal Haasan and Naseeruddin Shah, lawyer Prashant Bhushan, Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, activist Shehla Rashid and journalist Barkha Dutt and attack them.
Writing to the Delhi Police Commissioner, Joshi had stated how Mishra’s video violated the Indian Penal Code and IT Act. His circular had stated, “It is brought to your kind notice that one Mr Kapil Mishra, has circulated a highly incendiary video, provoking people to attack some citizens. I saw the video on Twitter. It has been uploaded on YouTube.”
It went on to add that the ‘content of the video is self explanatory and violates Indian Penal Code and IT Act.” Joshi concluded his note by stating that the letter was issued in public interest.
Soon, Joshi began to face vicious trolling by right-wing supporters on Twitter with many questioning his patriotism. However, far from being rattled by incessant trolling, Joshi took to Twitter to take on his haters head-on. He wrote, “All those calling me names, pl remember that I am a son of an Army Veteran ( 2/8 Gorkha Rifles) My family has had 5 members in Armed forces -Major General, Brigadier, 2 Colonels & 1 Vice Admiral. And my fufa got Kirti Chakra, so do not pontificate me on patriotism & nationalism.”
All those calling me names, pl remember that I am a son of an Army Veteran ( 2/8 Gorkha Rifles)
My family has had 5 members in Armed forces -Major General, Brigadier, 2 Colonels & 1 Vice Admiral.And my fufa got Kirti Chakra
So do not pontificate me on patriotism & nationalism
— Ashish Joshi (@acjoshi) February 25, 2019
When a right-wing supporter, calling himself a lawyer, disagreed with Joshi’s interpretation of Mishra’s video, the senior bureaucrat replied, “Sad to hear from an advocate. Do also see sections 503, 504, 505 & 509 of IPC. Infact some states have also applied NSA act related to cows .The instant case relates to human beings & is more serious. Video is provoking people to enter homes & drag some citizens to ‘.चौराहा'”
Sad to hear from an advocate.
Do also see sections 503, 504, 505 & 509 of IPCInfact some states have also applied NSA act related to cows .The instant case relates to human beings & is more serious
Video is provoking people to enter homes & drag some citizens to ‘.चौराहा’ https://t.co/BIoLJ0NCe5
— Ashish Joshi (@acjoshi) February 25, 2019
One BJP troll taunted him for allegedly acting against the government while being a part of the system. To which, Joshi responded, “Civil servant is a creature of Constitution of India. My allegiance is only & only to the Constitution of India. I do what I do.”
Civil servant is a creature of Constitution of India.
My allegiance is only & only to the Constitution of India.
I do what I do. https://t.co/3WhzslteIf
— Ashish Joshi (@acjoshi) February 25, 2019
Mishra, in his video, had issued a chilling warning while calling for violence against veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Kamal Hassan, Congress Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu lawyer Prashant Bhushan, journalist Barkha Dutt and activist Shehla Rashid. In a video message, posted on Twitter, Mishra said that the time had come to enter their houses and attack them since they were traitors.
