New Delhi: Congress national media coordinator Radhika Khera has been in the eye of a social media storm following a tweet that is being perceived as one celebrating India’s loss in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against Pakistan Sunday.
In a cryptic tweet late Sunday night, shortly after the country’s 10-wicket loss to Pakistan, Khera tweeted, “क्यों भक्तों, आ गया स्वाद ? करवा ली बेइज़्ज़ती (So bhakton, got a taste of your own medicine, managed to get yourselves insulted)???”
क्यों भक्तों, आ गया स्वाद ?
करवा ली बेइज़्ज़ती ???
— Radhika Khera (@Radhika_Khera) October 24, 2021
Controversy erupted almost immediately, as the tweet went viral, with many accusing her of rejoicing in India’s loss and siding with Pakistan. Among those who hit out at Khera and the Congress were Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Gaurav Bhatia, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, and Kapil Mishra.
Bagga questioned why the Congress was so happy over Pakistan’s victory, before noting that it was the same party that had asked the Indian military for proof of surgical strikes. He also took a veiled dig at the party’s decision to induct Kanhaiya Kumar, the former JNU Student Union chief who is an accused in an alleged sedition case stemming from an event to mark Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s death anniversary in 2016.
पाकिस्तान की जीत पर कांग्रेस इतनी खुश क्यों ? भूल गए ये वही पार्टी हैं जो पाकिस्तान जाके कहती हैं इन्हें हटाइये,हमे ले आइये। ये वही पार्टी हैं जो भारतीय सेना से सर्जिकल स्ट्राइक का सबूत मांगती है और भारत तेरे टुकड़े होंगे और अफजल के नारे लगाने वालों को पार्टी में शामिल करती हैं https://t.co/NeI6ngPciR
— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) October 24, 2021
Bhatia, meanwhile, lashed out at “Pakistani snakes” in India.
हम हार गए लेकिन सीखे की हार के बाद भी pitch को दोष नहीं देना।
हाँ भारत में रहने वाले पाकी सपोलों को बधाई की वो जीत गए। pic.twitter.com/7HQesDLV7I
— Gaurav Bhatia गौरव भाटिया ?? (@gauravbh) October 25, 2021
Kapil Mishra did not name Khera in his tweet, but said a vote for the Congress amounted to a vote for India’s disintegration.
मेरी नानी कहती थी : बेटा जो ये तुम भारत, पाकिस्तान और बंगलादेश के मैच का मज़ा ले रहे हो ना वो सब कांग्रेस की वजह से ही है !
कांग्रेस को वोट दिया तो आगे भारत vs केरल/बंगाल/असम/कश्मीर के मैच मजा भी मिल सकता है #INDvPAK
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) October 24, 2021
Khera later tweeted that she had been misunderstood.
In a tweet Monday, Khera claimed her tweet had been “twisted and turned”, as “there was no reference whatsoever to cricket, or any one losing or winning” in her original tweet.
Yes, I will definitely take legal action.
My tweet has been twisted and turned.
There was no reference whatsoever to cricket, or any one losing or winning.
But lies and deceit is the Karma & Dharma of BJP & it’s sponsored media! https://t.co/JjtvXZwkbe
— Radhika Khera (@Radhika_Khera) October 25, 2021
ThePrint tried to reach Khera over WhatsApp and phone calls for a comment on this report, but there was no response by the time of publishing.
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‘Keep losing sleep’
As the controversy raged on, Khera put out more social media posts and also a video.
Early Monday morning, right after the onslaught of criticism started, Khera tweeted, “बेवक़ूफ़ भक्त और मालवीया के ₹2 ट्रोल, तुमको मेरी ट्वीट से *chilly emoji* लग रही है तो मैं क्या करूँ? मैं तो चली सोने, तुम अपना खून जलाते रहो!! Shoooooo! [Silly (Amit) Malviya (national convenor of the BJP’s IT cell) and his two-rupee trolls, why does my tweet irk you so much? I am going to sleep, you keep losing sleep over it].”
Khera alleged in a video that since PM Modi had come to power, he had sent a “love letter” to Pakistan every year. This appeared to be a reference to an interview of PM Modi while the UPA was in power, where he said the “writing of love letters” to Pakistan should stop. The Congress has since criticised the Prime Minister in the same vein for extending Pakistan National Day greetings to the country’s leaders every year.
बल्ले और बैट से तो बात कर लेते हैं,
लेकिन लाल आँख दिखाने से चूक जाते हैं!#आज_का_शब्द : ‘भारत-पाकिस्तान’ ??https://t.co/pSE49nm3Gw#INDvPAK
— Radhika Khera (@Radhika_Khera) October 24, 2021
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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