Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday sacked a student leader for “abusing and trolling” a journalist on micro-blogging website Twitter, setting an example at a time when most of the leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, maintain an uncanny silence on the issue of their partymen using filthy language on the social media.
PHOTO: PTIOne Gautam Adhikari had attacked Rifat Jawaid, editor-in-chief of Janta Ka Reporter, for a report on the RJD chief Lalu Yadav and his meeting Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Adhikari, whose Twitter profile had described him as a local RJD office-bearer in Vaishali, had posted two tweets abusing Rifat’s mother using extreme profanity.
Rifat had shared the abusive tweets and tagged Lalu Yadav’s son and former deputy chief minister of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, and his Rajya Sabha MP sister Misa Bharti drawing their attention to the abusive tweets. Within hours of being informed, Tejashwi tweeted informing Rifat how he had sacked Adhikari while also apologising on his behalf.
Tejashwi wrote, “Dear @RifatJawaid , Thanks for bringing this in my knowledge. I tender sincere apology to you on his behalf. He has been sacked from his post with immediate effect as Block President of Chatra RJD. We don’t promote or encourage such unsocial elements. Again my apologies.”
Dear @RifatJawaid ,
Thanks for bringing this in my knowledge. I tender sincere apology to you on his behalf. He has been sacked from his post with immediate effect as Block President of Chatra RJD.
We don’t promote or encourage such unsocial elements. Again my apologies. pic.twitter.com/3boGQLB93e
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) May 1, 2018
Tejashwi earned plenty of plaudits for his swift and firm action against the abusive troll within his party. He’s being hailed with many terming it as a breath of fresh air given that Prime Minister Modi has been refusing to take similar actions against abusive trolls, who routinely issue rape threats to women journalists and activists. Modi is known to follow many of these abusive BJP trolls.
Here are few reactions from journalists:
This is what a leader should do when someone from his/her party abuses or trolls people openly on social media. While you get an uncanny silence from all the parties, here’s @yadavtejashwi setting an example by sacking his own for abusing @RifatJawaid bhai! Way to go, Tejashwi! https://t.co/h7zYz7TksX
— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) May 1, 2018
Great job @yadavtejashwi wish your seniors in politics such as @PMOIndia at least stop following trolls who indulge in daily incitement, death & rape threats. Celebrate the murder of journalists https://t.co/7t3A6Geuz7
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) May 1, 2018
This is what leaders of political parties should do with those who abuse. Good going @yadavtejashwi . Hope other parties follow your example in this. https://t.co/swZ27WbbwO
— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) May 1, 2018
Rest assured @BJP4India will never do something like this. https://t.co/iUr3BCrxAa
— Prerna Bakshi (@bprerna) May 1, 2018
An honest intention to change. Politics have long consisted of violence, abuse, filthy behaviour but with more exposure and transparency pol parties are changing. All except BJP. Modi will continue to follow and embolden abusive trolls & BJP MLAs rally in support of rape accused https://t.co/N5Tm0ETiNN
— Sanjukta Basu (@sanjukta) May 1, 2018
Glad you did this @yadavtejashwi. Hope other parties will do the same https://t.co/9kcL30P5Ph
— Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) May 1, 2018
Wow…Just wow….@yadavtejashwi has set ab example today. Sacked own party worker who abused journalist. Everyone from coon man to Prime Minister must take a lesson from him. Hats off to u Tejsavi Yadav. More respect. https://t.co/o6p9FLrpi6
— ASHUTOSH MISHRA (@ashu3page) May 1, 2018