In a debate moderated by TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, panelists -- Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi, National Spokesperson, BJP & Political Advisor to Rajnath Singh; M R Venkatesh, Chartered Accountant & Policy Analyst; Jayanto Ghoshal, Editor, Ananda Bazar Patrika, Delhi; Tom Vadakkan, National Spokesperson, Congress; and Rajiv Desai, Chairman & CEO, COMMA Consulting -- discuss the issue of big Twitter war over PM Modi's Seoul attack on Congress party, and as to who is stretching the argument.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks abroad on how people earlier used to think what sin they commited to have been born in India and how this has now changed sparked angry reaction from opposition parties today (May 19, 2015) besides triggering a storm of protest on social media. Congress said it is "really pained" at the remarks made by Modi, calling it shameful while the JD(U) said it has "devalued" the stature of the prime minister and lowered the dignity of his office. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a sarcastic response said it appeared there were no Indians who took pride in their country before May 16, 2014-- the day when BJP stormed to power unseating the UPA government. Modis remarks evoked a strong reaction from Twitterati, some of whom criticised the Prime Minister for "insulting" his own country. It triggered one of Twitters top trends, the hashtag #ModiInsultsIndia. "We are really pained over the remarks as no leader in independent India has ever made such a statement", former Union Minister Kapil Sibal said at the AICC briefing, expressing shock and dismay. "Why those who occupy the highest offices today become self-centric instead of country centric when they go abroad ?", Ahmed Patel, Political Secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi said on micro-blogging site Twitter.