Sun 25 June 2023:
Sabrina Siddiqui, the journalist from the United States who questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ‘discrimination against minorities in India’ during his visit to the US, was trolled and abused by pro-Hindutva social media users, notably on Twitter.
Siddiqui is the White House correspondent for The Washington Post.
In one of the rare moments of a journalist directly posing a question to the PM, Siddique asked: “India has long prided itself as the world’s largest democracy, but there are many human rights groups who say that your government has discriminated against religious minorities and sought to silence its critics. As you stand here in the East Room of the White House, where so many world leaders have made commitments to protecting democracy, what steps are you and your government willing to take to improve the rights of Muslims and other minorities in your country and to uphold free speech?”
This is why Modi was avoiding a press conference for the last 9 years. Even a mild question on democratic backsliding and safety of minorities, particularly Muslims turned his face red and he went on his usual rambling of blood, vain, DNA, etc. pic.twitter.com/K6dnzhkuXE
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) June 22, 2023
Modi expressed his ‘surprise’ over the question and replied: “Democracy is our spirit. Democracy runs in our veins. We live democracy…our government has taken the basic principles of democracy…we have always proved that democracy can deliver. And when I say deliver, this is regardless of caste, creed, religion, gender. There is absolutely no space for discrimination.”
Heading the backlash against Siddique was BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya who called her question as ‘motivated’ and used terms like ‘toolkit gang’
Soon after, Pro Hindutva and pro BJP Twitter accounts went against Siddiqui, dubbing her a ‘Pakistani Islamist’ and raised conspiracy theories regarding her motivations behind the question. “She only targets India.” “Hate is in the DNA of Pakistanis (sic),” one such Twitter handle stated.
Pro-BJP websites such as OpIndia went even farther, reporting that she is the daughter of “Pakistani parents” and is “echoing the claims of Islamists.”
In response to internet accusations labelling her ‘anti-India,’ Siddiqui shared a photo of herself and her India-born father cheering on the Indian cricket team on her Twitter account.
“Since some have chosen to make a point of my personal background, it feels only right to provide a fuller picture. Sometimes identities are more complex than they seem,” she tweeted along with the pictures.
Since some have chosen to make a point of my personal background, it feels only right to provide a fuller picture. Sometimes identities are more complex than they seem. pic.twitter.com/Huxbmm57q8
— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) June 24, 2023
Responding to the abuse, Congress senior leader Digvijaya Singh asked PM Modi to find out the individuals who are trolling the journalist.
“Mr Prime Minister @PMO to prove what you promised in your press conference in US would you please find out who are trolling the Wall Street correspondent? Isn’t it your own private Troll Army? If it is so would you take action against them? I have serious doubts. @INCIndia,” he tweeted.
Mr Prime Minister @PMO to prove what you promised in your press conference in US would you please find out who are trolling the Wall Street correspondent? Isn’t it your own private Troll Army?
If it is so would you take action against them? I have serious doubts. @INCIndia https://t.co/dmKnRks6SU— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) June 25, 2023
In another tweet, he appreciated Sidddiqui for doing a great job as a journalist. He also said that Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s ‘Hussain Obama’ remarks have already proved his leader PM Modi wrong regarding ‘discrimination against minorities’ in India.
Listen to this important advice from Obama to Biden & Modi: "Biden should raise this issue with Modi: Why it is important for India & Hindu India to protect the rights & interests of the Muslim & ethnic minorities" pic.twitter.com/n2CCd68Sy1
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) June 23, 2023
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
______________________________________________________________
FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:
TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent
FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE)
https://web.facebook.com/ipindependent
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
