As Minister of External Affairs of India, Sushma Swaraj is doing some awesome work.
However, a recent tweet of hers in the wake of the rampant ‘Afro-phobia’ in the nation backfired immediately when she indirectly referred to Africa as a country.
I appeal to fellow Indians. Next time you meet an African citizen, pl shake hand and say ‘India loves you’.
Pl RT— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 2, 2016
Even though she’d tweeted it in good faith, it evoked nothing but a backlash from the Twitterati.
@SushmaSwaraj sure madam, also do appeal to fellow bhakts: next time you meet a Muslim or a Dalit, pl shake hand and say ‘India loves you’.
— pravin mishra (@mishra_pravin) June 2, 2016
.@SushmaSwaraj Please also appeal to Delhiites that next time they see a Northeastern person, say, “Delhi loves you”.
— Mr. Tippler (@MrTippler) June 2, 2016
.@SushmaSwaraj African citizen? Africa is not a country
— Sulabh Varshney (@sulabh_varshney) June 2, 2016
@SushmaSwaraj Better still. Urge fellow Indians to not be racist and xenophobic. Let’s truly change who we are. @apercevoir
— Harish Subramanian (@HarishSub) June 2, 2016
.@SushmaSwaraj Ma’am, first appeal to these Shiv Sena-MNS guys first, that next time they meet a Bihari guy, say “Maharashtra loves you”.
— Mr. Tippler (@MrTippler) June 2, 2016
.@SushmaSwaraj I appeal to the BJP. Next time you meet a member of the LGBT community, pl shake hand and say ‘India loves you’.
Pl RT— Hardik Rajgor (@Hardism) June 2, 2016
And of course, the trolls weren’t too far behind.
@SushmaSwaraj pic.twitter.com/SjEybYroqC
— Namaah (@The_HappyNoodle) June 2, 2016
@SushmaSwaraj ma’am pls unblock me. Main toh indian hi hoon.
— bedardi raja (@CopyWalaTweet) June 2, 2016
It’s okay ma’am. We got what you were trying to say.