By Shambhavi Saxena:
“Earlier, you felt ashamed of being born Indian. Now you feel proud to represent the country. Indians abroad had all hoped for a change in government last year.”
These are the words of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he addressed a gathering of NRIs in Shanghai China, repeated in Seoul, South Korea, and wouldn’t you know it, tech-savvy Indians took umbrage.
Surfing across the globe on economic trends that were in place well before his time at South Block, he sees himself as the beacon of a new dawn, eviscerating the Indian nation of its rich traditions and history of social and political events, many of which are a matter of pride and joy for one or another community.
Of all the self-aggrandizing, 10 lakh monogrammy suit-ish things to do this is by far the best thing to come tumbling out of the Indian Prime Minister’s mouth. He may have convinced some people of his pristine intentions, or that he is, in fact, the Iron Patriot – move over Tony Stark! – but he has a lot of answering to do to the twitterati, which is busy tearing holes into his statement, and won’t let either the incidents of Gujarat in 2002 or his current joyride around the world slide from public memory that easy.
Narendra Modi has insulted not only the 125 crore people of India, but our parents, grand-parents, freedom fighters. #ModiInsultsIndia
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) May 19, 2015
2002 Gujarat riot victims say they would be proud to be Indian if they were still alive
— RushdieExplainsIndia (@RushdieExplains) May 19, 2015
Just talked to Brahma. He’s not ashamed to have been born Indian either. #ModiInsultsIndia
— God (@TheTweetOfGod) May 19, 2015
Selfie, Self Satisfaction & Self Praise have become order of the day. #ModiInsultsIndia
— Main Hoon Na (@SwachhPolitics) May 19, 2015
Have you been to Sultsindia? It’s where Modi is right now. #modiinsultsindia
— Neha Sharma (@KoBhul) May 19, 2015
Economic liberalization in India did not start under Modi rule.It started way back in 1991.So what is he taking credit for?#ModiInsultsIndia
— Aarti Tikoo Singh (@AartiTikoo) May 19, 2015
Ppl who feel proud of their country only when it provides dem with good business opportunities aren’t worth being Indians #ModiInsultsIndia
— Babar Mir (@BabarMir4) May 19, 2015
I was a proud Indian when you were struggling with the blot of Gujarat riots! #ModiInsultsIndia
— Harshdeep Rapal (@harshdeeprapal) May 19, 2015
“Earlier, you felt ashamed of being born Indian”, says PM #Modi. No. But we do now. Now that you’re our PM. #ModiInsultsIndia
— Right To Rebel (@bprerna) May 19, 2015
#ModiInsultsIndia We elect a PM who travels the world at our expense to tell the world how ashamed we are about our parents & ancestors. 🙁
— Mansoor Ali (@iAmMansoor06) May 19, 2015