Colonel Santosh Mahadik’s death in encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara on Tuesday has sent a shock wave across the country.
The death of Col Mahadik, second high-ranking officer to die fighting the terrorists after Colonel Munindra Nath Rai died in encounter in Tral area of the valley in January this year, has been a subject of intense social media conversation since Tuesday.
Colonel Mahadik was a top twitter trend on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, the reports of wreath laying ceremony, prompted the social media users to start discussing his death once again.
The dominating theme of this discussion revolved around criticism for Prime Minister Narendra Modi because, while in opposition, he wasted no opportunity to embarrass the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh for being weak in dealing with terrorists.
User Samar quoted Modi’s one such tweet posted in 2009;
I wish to ask the Prime Minister, are you not weak? If indeed you are a strong government, the country needs proof of that.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 4, 2009
Samar asked;
Colonel Santosh Mahadik's martyrdom seeks the same answer too… though from a different PM. https://t.co/b6U7Uy0VSt
— Samar (@Samar_Anarya) November 18, 2015
User @withrahulg asked why PM Modi had time to tweet about the VHP leader Ashok Singhal’s death but not for India’s martyr Colonel Mahadik.
https://twitter.com/withrahulg/status/666827289829744640
User @congressichokra said he was still waiting for a twee ‘on colonel’s death from 56 inch’ prime minister
@gauravcsawant @divyasingh75 still waiting for a tweet frm 56 inch on colonel's death.. Is he evn aware of it?
— Avi INC (@congressichokra) November 18, 2015
User RM Bhagat asked Modi to ‘stop preaching’ on terrorism adding that he need to ‘act’ now.
#Colonel Santosh mahadik
Modij stop preaching d world about terrorism. What's stopping u from uprooting it from your backyard. Time 2 act— R M Bhatt (@neoconcepts21) November 18, 2015
User Manvendra Singh Rana wrote;
Another brave, colonel Santosh, laid his life for nation in Kashmir. What change Modi has brought in Kashmir?! Absolutely nothing!!! Shame!!
— M S Rana⚓ (@ms_rana) November 18, 2015
Kapil Mishra, a minister in Delhi government, asked;
France can attack terrorist outfits outside thier country, USA can attack then why can't India ?? #ColonelSantoshMahadik
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) November 18, 2015
User Amit Sirohiya asked similar question;
Colonel Santosh Mahadik died in encounter in Kashmir.There is modi gov now what has changd brave soldiers r still dying @BJP4India @INCIndia
— Amit Sirohiya (@AmitSirohiya22) November 17, 2015
Some twitter users criticised the Congress MP, Mani Shankar Aiyar, for his reported comments against Modi on a Pakistani channel.
User Marvin asked;
While traitor scumbags Mani Shankar Aiyar & Salman Khurshid were licking Paki biryani, Col Santosh Mahadik sacrificed his life for India
— Marvin (@VogonPoem) November 18, 2015
User Hermanprit Singh tweeted;
Either we do not deserve martyrdom of Col Santosh Mahadik or rogues like Mani Aiyar & Khurshid who cosy up to tertorists waging war on India
— Hermanprit Singh (@hermanprit) November 18, 2015
However, there were plenty of tweets condoling the martyrdom of Colonel Mahadik;
Here’s a snapshot of these tweets
Salutations to the young, brave Colonel Santosh Mahadik who in the best traditions of our Fauj- commanded right from the front. God Bless.
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) November 18, 2015
https://twitter.com/AbhinavAAP/status/666838585409073152
Martyr Colonel Santosh Mahadik will be laid to rest in Satara today. My heart goes out to his family, his loved ones.
— Preeti Sharma Menon (@PreetiSMenon) November 18, 2015
Colonel Santosh Mahadik will always be alive amngst us;laid down life fighting 4 'India'.Supreme Sacrifice;Reminds to take on Terror Head On
— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) November 17, 2015
Colonel Santosh Mahadik died today, battling militants in Kupwara. Upheld tradition of leading from the front. RIP and God bless his family.
— Ajai Shukla (@ajaishukla) November 17, 2015
The nation is proud of Colonel Santosh Mahadik, CO 41 Rashtriya Rifles. His courage & fortitude shall be remembered for long. RIP.
— Rao Inderjit Singh (@Rao_InderjitS) November 17, 2015
https://twitter.com/NotADiplomatic/status/666860711373590529