BENGALURU: Biocon Managing Director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw found herself being trolled on Twitter following a tweet over the statewide bandh. Even though the tweet was deleted eventually, Twitterati targeted the entrepreneur, forcing her to justify her support to the state over the Cauvery dispute.
During the bandh, which was total in several parts of the state, including Bengaluru, #KarnatakaBandh trended throughout the day. Other hashtags related to the bandh also surfaced during the day.
‘Bandhaluru’
The controversial tweet by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw took a dig at the repeated bandhs the city has witnessed over the past few weeks.
“Another Bandh - it’s now Bandhaluru where bandhs are affecting productivity - what a sad situation where farmers on both sides cannot share.” she tweeted.
Responding to a tweet by @bkolleri, Shaw added: “(sic) Yes we shd rename our city as Bandhaluru”.
Though she was quick to delete the tweet and clarify her position regarding the issue, trolls descended on her, demanding an apology. Some of the tweets also questioned her knowledge of the issue and whether ‘people living in AC room’ understand the problem of farmers.
However, a few others extended support to the remarks made by her, pointing out how a tweet could soon backfire and cause problems.
After a while, she decided to put the issue to rest, tweeting: “(sic) Pls read my message don’t listen to media twist. I hv always stood by farmers n people of Karnataka.”
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, in a release later, stated: “I express my solidarity with Karnataka, its people and farmers who are facing acute water challenges. Karnataka’s needs from Cauvery water must be addressed first. I have expressed the need to address the water dispute through amicable discussion and dialogue between the two governments. Violence and bandhs only harm the common man as he cannot go out to earn a living. Businesses lose out because of the impact on productivity, while the state’s image gets tarnished.
“That’s why I believe peaceful dialogue is the best way forward. My tweets on this subject have been misunderstood, I have utmost love and respect for my fellow citizens.”