Words as murderous as bullets - Tweets celebrate journalist murder; some count PM among followers

annada actress Akshata Rao at the public viewing of Gauri Lankesh's body at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bangalore on Wednesday. Bangalore News Photos

Anita Joshua, TT,  New Delhi, Sept. 6: A section of Indians, some of who are followed on Twitter by the Prime Minister, today celebrated the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh who had emerged as a vocal critic of the Sangh parivar's brand of Hindutva.

Neither the motive nor the identity of the killers has been established yet. But the blizzard of bilious tweets suggests that those behind them are hoping Gauri was killed for the positions she had taken on multiple issues.

Several of the tweets are unprintable, and attention-seekers sometimes post outrageous content for publicity. But some tweets stood out because their authors proclaim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi follows them.

The Twitter page of Nikhil Dadhich, who introduces himself as "businessman, garments manufacturer, Hindu nationalist", says: "Honored To Be Followed By PM Sh. @narendramodi Ji."

Dadhich tweeted in Hindi last night that a ***** (a word that means a canine but is also used as an expletive) had died a dog's death and all the pups were bawling. The tweet had two winking emoticons with their tongues sticking out.

After the tweet triggered an uproar, Dadhich tweeted afresh: "I wrote about an incident in my lane. But you linked it to Gauri Lankesh and exposed your thinking. My tweet had no link with Gauri Lankesh but some people are deliberately tying it to the dead and insulting her."

A Shillong-based accounts officer made no bones about what he thought about Gauri's murder. "Let d shooting of #GauriLankesh serve as example to those anti-nationals who masquerade as journalists & activists. I hope this is not d last in a should be episode of serial assassinations of all anti nationals... at d end of a list that should start with antinational & treacherous politicians. A hit list be prepared & eliminate all those on d list.... At last a ray of hope."

The officer posted his opinion on Facebook and there was no evidence that the Prime Minister was keeping track of his posts.

At a protest meeting in the Press Club of India in New Delhi, journalist Ravish Kumar raised the issue of the Prime Minister following some of the tweeters who were making abhorrent statements.

"A person called Nikhil Dadhich, who is followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter, wrote that all the pups were raging against the death of a dog. Will the Prime Minister care to explain what is his compulsion behind following such people?'' Kumar asked.

Till this evening, the Prime Minister, who is in Myanmar, not only did not comment on his micro-blogging preferences but also remained silent on the murder of Gauri.

Information and broadcasting minister Smriti Irani posted a dutiful reaction. "Condemn killing of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh. Hope speedy investigation is conducted and justice delivered. Condolences to the family," the minister tweeted.

This is not the first time people being followed by the Prime Minister - who is among the most followed world leaders on Twitter - have picked on people they brand as "anti-nationals", "sickulars'' or "libtards".

Time and again, active social media users have flagged the issue, pointing out that the Prime Minister's decision to follow such individuals abets the culture of impunity and targeted violence.

Late this evening, IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad considered the celebrations grave enough to tweet: "I strongly condemn & deplore the messages on social media expressing happiness on the dastardly murder of #Gaurilankesh. Expressing happiness on the killing of anyone is shameful, regrettable and totally against Indian traditions. Social media is not for that."