Chetan Bhagat gives gyan on Gaza, gets hammered on Twitter
by FP Staff Jul 17, 2014 11:10 IST
Poor Chetan Bhagat. No matter how hard he tries to be the good guy on Twitter, people are just out to hate on him. After his last big Twitter gaffe where he ended up comparing the rupee's fall to rape, the Indian novelist has done it again. This time after he decided to play current affairs hawk and air his views on the ongoing Gaza-Israel conflict.
He began with the following tweet, "What is happening to Gaza isn't fair but sadly that is the only way sometimes terrorist organizations and their supporters learn to behave."
Now while Chetan might have thought that he was playing the good-middle-guy here, the tweet didn't win him any fans and he was soon getting hammered for what was naturally seen as an insensitive remark. Particularly since over 200 civilians, have been killed in Gaza after incessant strikes by Israel.
Bhagat also made the classic Twitter etiquette mistake of not pre-fixing or ending his tweets with continued or 1 of 3. He followed this tweet with two others saying, "I do think Israel has made its point though. Wish it would stop now and bring peace talks on the table again," and then "Isn't it interesting though how so many rich Islamic countries in the region don't say a word or intervene when Gaza is attacked."
Chetan Bhagat in this file photo, Reuters
Perhaps anticipating that the first tweet would be seen alone, Bhagat also said that his tweets on Gaza needed to be read in continuity and not in isolation. However Bhagat's last two tweets, which frankly are still the classic fence-sitting argument, weren't good enough to keep angry Twitter users from having a go at him.
Some pointed out that Bhagat had no context of history, that in no way was the killing of innocent children justified and that perhaps Bhagat would do well if he did some research on Palestine and Israel before commenting.
Of course, Bhagat did get some supporters who seemed to agree with the view that by destroying Gaza, Israel was just defending itself against rocket attacks from Hamas.
Check out the Twitter war below in all it's glory:
Chetan Bhagat's tweets
What is happening to Gaza isn't fair but sadly that is the only way sometimes terrorist organizations and their supporters learn to behave.
" Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) July 16, 2014
I do think Israel has made its point though. Wish it would stop now and bring peace talks on the table again.
" Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) July 16, 2014
Isn't it interesting though how so many rich Islamic countries in the region don't say a word or intervene when Gaza is attacked.
" Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) July 16, 2014
My last three tweets should be read together. Anyone posting them selectively is clearly quoting me out of context. Thanks.
" Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) July 16, 2014
When people abuse you in their retorts, you know they have no answer and you have won the argument. Tired of lazy extreme view takers.
" Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) July 16, 2014
The ones who weren't so happy with Chetan Bhagat's view on Gaza
@chetan_bhagat that's hypocritical. You feel it's a necessity to bomb civilians. Don't you think that makes you an extremist?
" Sadia Maqsood (@sadiamaqsood) July 16, 2014
@chetan_bhagat Look at who is talking about extreme views. Yes justifying killing of children is a very moderate view. what a moron you are.
" Hypocrisy Watch (@bigotry_watch) July 16, 2014
@chetan_bhagat Disgusting that you believe the terrorist organizations and their supporters will learn that way.
" Indra Dhoj Kshetri (@indradhoj) July 16, 2014
@chetan_bhagat kids who lost their lives were not terrorists , Sir.
" Bhavi (@bhavinder) July 16, 2014
@chetan_bhagat by killing innocent children.. ? Is it.. ?
" Suhas Samuel (@SuhasSamuel) July 16, 2014
@chetan_bhagat I do not understand how, on the grounds of democracy, would you call either Hamas or the Israeli government terrorists.
" Ritesh J (@whitecrayon) July 16, 2014
@shobhit_todi @bhavinder @chetan_bhagat the last attack by the Israeli government, less than two hours ago, was on a hospital you dimwit.
" Ritesh J (@whitecrayon) July 16, 2014
@chetan_bhagat respected your writing and started following you..you need to research history a bit before talking about Gaza and Israel.
" Kiran (@kiranjiya) July 16, 2014
What a ridiculous statement by @chetan_bhagat. So by annihilating the Palestinians the terrorists are being taught a lesson? #yeahright
" Zee mitha (@ZeeZooMeeMoo1) July 16, 2014
. @chetan_bhagat u shd hv just kept it simple & said u r as sad for #Gaza as if a puppy had come under ur car. Wud hv been clear then..
" Suryanarayan Ganesh (@gsurya) July 16, 2014
And finally the pro Israel lobby:
@abvayad @chetan_bhagat those coward terrorist use children as shield.Israel can destroy them in 1 hour but she is hitting only terror
" Rohit Akhauri (@iLoveiDevices) July 16, 2014
@bhavinder @chetan_bhagat Israel kids were also innocent. You can't be human with animals despite of its unwanted outcomes.
" Jalpesh N Desai (@JalpeshNDesai) July 16, 2014
@bhavinder what r u supposed to do if ur country is attacked by issiles
" Shobhit Todi (@shobhit_todi) July 16, 2014
While Bhagat might say that he was misquoted by those who only saw his first tweet, the fact is that even when put together his tweets still hold the view that Israel isn't entirely wrong in what it's doing to Gaza, that it is just self-defence. But of course as Palestinian casualties show this is an all-out war on it's people.
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