Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has earned plenty of accolades for providing humane touch to her ministry by often bailing out ordinary public of their misery.
However, the minister found herself in the spot of bother after she chose to respond to a tweet from All India United Democratic Front’s leader Badruddin Ajmal. It all started with Ajmal thanking Swaraj for India’s decision to vote against Israel at the United Nations last week.
He wrote, “Thanks Government of India for voting in the UN against US decision of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.”
Thanks Government of India for voting in the UN against US decision of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.@SushmaSwaraj
— M Badruddin Ajmal (@BadruddinAjmal) December 22, 2017
Swaraj responded, “Thank you Ajmal Sahib. Now you vote for us.”
Thank you Ajmal Sahib. Now you vote for us. https://t.co/OsQPv4PNDe
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 22, 2017
The minister’s response visibly irked Ajmal, who shot back, “Our vote is always for India, Madam. The day BJP does not differentiate between Majority and Minority community, our vote will be for you.”
Our vote is always for India, Madam. The day BJP does not differentiate between Majority and Minority community, our vote will be for you. https://t.co/yLoEoCazqD
— M Badruddin Ajmal (@BadruddinAjmal) December 23, 2017
Ajmal wasn’t the only one offended by Swaraj’s tweet as social media users with both centre and right-wing ideologies appeared unimpressed.
I will vote if Shambhu Lal is punished, Babu Bajrangi is kept in jail, killers of Akhlaq are not draped in tricolor, lynchers of Muslims are accepted as terrorists and treated same. I and we will vote. https://t.co/fKa80gpNB7
— Whirling Dervesh (@WhirlingDervesh) December 23, 2017
Blah! Is this why we voted for BJP ? You too started doing appeasement. You gonna face results in 19′. Remember, It was Israel who supported you (India) by providing arms in 99′ and not palestine. Disappointed by India’s vote.
— Akshay Sharma (@iKrys74l) December 22, 2017
Don’t expect a single vote from such people. India shd have voted in favour of Israel. Israel always voted in favour of India. Repeating Vajpaye Govt’s Mistake. #NoHope2019 @narendramodi
— Pramod P K (@PkPraamod) December 22, 2017
The United Nations on Thursday had overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution calling the US to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The non-binding resolution was approved by 128 countries, with 35 abstaining and nine others voting against. India, which has been an ally of Donald Trump under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too voted against the US.