An official Twitter handle of the Indian government has had to face flak from BJP supporters after it promoted an award-winning book by author Arundhati Roy, who’s been a known critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Faced with outrage from Hindutva supporters, the official Twitter handle of ‘MyGovIndia’ decided to delete the controversial tweet.
The controversial tweet by MyGovIndia had read, “… What does ‘The God of Small Things’ mean to you? Take the 20 Words Book Summary Challenge! If you are interested in publishing your own book, then participate in #MentoringYuvaScheme…”
The BJP began to face incessant criticism from its supporters immediately after the controversial tweet was shared by one of the most prominent Twitter handles of the Indian government.
User Vijay Patel wrote, “Arundhati Roy financed ALT news, which was involved in Congress Toolkit. One of his owner facing a case for spreading fake news. But a mole, who is handling the government Twitter handle is promoting Arundhati Roy’s book!” User Squineon wrote, “Which Joker is handling @mygovindia? Hafeez Saeed ka bhi ek book hai, usko bhi promote kar dena. No difference between Arundhati Roy & hafeez Saaed. Absolute buffoons these creatures are.”
Faced with growing outrage, MyGovIndia decided to take down the tweet.
Roy, whose book ‘The God of Small Things’ had won the prestigious Booker prize in 1997, has been one of the fiercest critics of the Narendra Modi government.
Explaining why she has been a critic of Modi, Roy had once told BBC, “… Because today you’re looking at a situation where the Muslim community has been ghettoised. You’re looking at people being lynched on the streets. You’re looking at them being pushed out of economic activity they participated in earlier, you know meat shops, leather work, handicrafts, all of this under assault.”
She had added, “The violence in India is terrifying. You all must have followed the rape of the little girl in Kashmir. That happened but thousands of people marched in support of the rapists including women, in support of the alleged rapists let’s say. But the point is there was an attempt to change how that trial was going to take place. So the polarisation is so frightening.”