Gauri Lankesh murder: Ravi Shankar Prasad caught in Twitter crossfire

Union Information and Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday slammed cynical comments on social media that celebrated the cold-blooded murder of fearless journalist Gauri Lankesh on Tuesday night at her residence in Bengaluru.

“Expressing happiness on the killing of anyone is shameful, regrettable and totally against Indian traditions. Social media is not for that,” he wrote on twitter, adding that, “I strongly condemn and deplore the messages on social media expressing happiness on the dastardly murder of Gauri Lankesh.”

Though he was appreciated by many for lashing out at the Hindutva supporters for flaunting their perverse satisfaction over the killing, he found himself caught in the crossfire. While Hindu fanatics gave him lessons in “religious traditions” and freedom of speech, others accused him of shedding crocodile tears over the murder of the firebrand woman journalist.

Some right wingers were so baffled over the Union minister’s reactions that they had to remind him how the power of social media helped his party win elections. A few of them were quick to complain that such statements from him were antithetical to the expectations of his party workers.

“Sir, it's all about thinking. There is a way to use freedom of speech. But we won't allow people to speak who is anti-India,” wrote Bhairav responding to his tweet.

Manjeet Bagga, another agitated twitter user, wrote: “Social media worked tirelessly for you and this is what you reward us with?”

Ravi Tiwari, a BJP supporter who claims to be a Dental surgeon on his twitter handle, reacted: “Doesn’t matter if it’s not part of Indian traditions. But ‘bad deeds bring bad actions’ is part of our ethos. Our ideology is nationalism.”

On the flip side, those who were agitated over the insensitive reactions in poor taste that flooded social media after the gruesome murder from these quarters, asked Ravi Shankar to “walk the talk” and tell Prime Minister Narendra Modi to unfollow “sick and deplorable” tweeple who gloated over the gruesome murder. They also advised him to better make his party trolls understand how to respect difference of opinions and respect women.

“It is very shameful @narendramodi follows abusers! What is his compulsion? Why is he shaming India? Is Beti Bachao a jumla? Talk to him please,” MS Rana, an IT professional wrote in response to minister’s tweet.

A resident of Bengaluru, Narayana Shenoy, asked, “can't there be any legal provision to book them under law. Why this helplessness?”

Others like Iliyas Mansuri suggested, “Sir, teach them how to express dissent non-violently in your shakhas. Nation doesn’t expect more...”