BJP Disagrees With Tathagata’s Ban ‘Everything Kashmiri’ Tweet

Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy describes himself as a right-wing Hindu socio-political thinker on Twitter.

The BJP on Thursday, 21 February, expressed its disagreement over Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy's tweet backing the boycott of "everything Kashmiri" following the Pulwama terror attack and said the party did not agree with his views.

"I don't agree with his tweet. Matter ends there," party leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Roy on Tuesday, 19 February, stoked controversy after he supported a call for a boycott of "everything Kashmiri", including the Amarnath Yatra and purchasing Kashmiri products.

Roy, who describes himself as a right-wing Hindu socio-political thinker, writer and ideologue on Twitter, went on the micro-blogging site to air his views.

An appeal from a retired colonel of the Indian Army: Don’t visit Kashmir,don’t go to Amarnath for the next 2 years. Don’t buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri.
I am inclined to agree

— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) February 19, 2019

"An appeal from a retired colonel of the Indian Army: Don't visit Kashmir, don't go to Amarnath for the next 2 years. Don't buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri. I am inclined to agree," he tweeted.

The BJP leader-turned-governor also referred to the Pakistan Army "who are handling the Kashmiri separatists" and its role in "East Pakistan", mentioning war crimes like slaughter and rape.

"... And they would have kept East Pakistan but for the whacking from India," Roy tweeted.

"I am not suggesting that we go that far. But at least some distance?" he wrote.

The Pakistan Army (who are handling the Kashmiri separatists) was among their own in East Pakistan in 1971. They slaughtered and raped right and left. And they would have kept EP but for the whacking from India.
I am not suggesting that we go that far. But at least some distance? https://t.co/WxzEpdnw4Z

— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) February 19, 2019

‘Sack Tathagata Roy’: GuV’s Comments Invoke Sharp Reactions

Roy's comments come in the wake of the 14 February terror attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

However, Roy’s comments were not well received by many Twitter users. One of the people to sharply criticise his comments was National Conference leader and former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah.

People like Tathagata want Kashmir but without Kashmiris. They’d sooner see us driven in to the sea. He’ll be best placed to know he can’t have one without the other so what’s it to be? https://t.co/BS1zAG78Xx

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 19, 2019

PDP Chief and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti called for Roy’s immediate sacking.

Deplorable statement coming from the Governor of Meghalaya. GoI must sack him immediately . If they fail to do so, it means he has their tacit approval and are using it as an election ploy to polarise the situation. https://t.co/AQE0e1akUH

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 19, 2019

Many others also took to twitter to slam Roy for his comments.

This is shocking beyond words. A Governor of an Indian state promoting such bigotry against the citizens of another state of India. Cannot the Prime Minister or the President put a stop to this? https://t.co/aZzkplUDBe

— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) February 19, 2019

Don’t Go to Amarnath, Boycott Everything Kashmiri: Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy Encourages Discrimination pic.twitter.com/D3lrs4G8jX

— Gurpreet Singh (@Gurpree46492633) February 19, 2019

#TathagataRoy should be stopped talking like this immediately. No compromise! @rashtrapatibhvn @narendramodi @rajnathsingh @AmitShah

— Bimal Pr. Mohapatra (@bimal_pr) February 19, 2019

Tathagata Roy has crossed several lines before and gotten away. If @rashtrapatibhvn doesn't take cognizance of this and sack him then we'll understand there is endorsement from both @rashtrapatibhvn and @PMOIndia .

— Madhumita Mazumdar (@mmazumdar2014) February 19, 2019

I wouldn't be surprised if Tathagata Roy gets sent to J&K as a governor. https://t.co/JWikdoSyFR

— Nikhil (@nikhil_thatte) February 19, 2019

Tathagata Roy is a fit case for being sacked. However you need not be worried as he is not taken seriously. He is incapable of polarising. However, your reaction and that of other politicians/ Media will definitely do so.

— KUMUDA CHANDRA PANDA (@kcpanda1955) February 19, 2019

In His Own Defence...

After facing flak for his comments, Roy once again took to Twitter to defend them and said that he was receiving “vociferously violent reactions from media and several others.”

Vociferously violent reactions from media and several others to my ECHOING OF a suggestion from a retired army colonel. A purely NON-VIOLENT REACTION to the killing of our soldiers by the hundreds and the driving out of 3.5 lakh Kashmiri Pandits.

— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) February 19, 2019