NEW DELHI: On a day when India struck a perfect pose for the International Day, a single tweet, even if it’s deleted within a few minutes, did the cause more damage those opposed to performance of asanas. The government and the BJP learnt it hard way.
The controversy over the now deleted tweet of BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on absence of Vice-President Hamid Ansari during the yoga day event escalated with the Congress and other opposition parties terming it was “divisive politics” and demanded an apology from the BJP leader.
Amidst reports that there was unease over Madhav’s comments, the government was forced to clear the air saying Ansari was not invited to event going by the warrant of precedence as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest.
Ayush minister Sripad Naik said,"Unknowingly something happens, we apologise for that. It should have been avoided. It's a mistake, he (Madhav) agrees, he apologised. He withdrew his statement."
Explaining the warrant of precedence, Naik said, "When the Prime Minister is chief guest, then inviting the Vice President is not proper. That is protocol. That's why we did not send the invite to him. President and Vice President are above the Prime Minister as per order of precedence and we cannot invite them accordingly."
On Sunday after the Yoga day, Madhav had tweeted: "Two questions. Did RS TV dat runs on tax payers money completely black out Yoga Day event? While President participated d VP gave a miss (sic)." As it turned out that his tweet was not factually incorrect, he deleted the first one and tweeted a second: "I am informed dat d VP was unwell. I withdrew my tweet. My apologies because d institution of VP deserves respect (sic)," He soon deleted the second tweet also, but by then social media had picked up the controversy.
On Monday, Madhav tried to down play the controversy. "As far as the tweet is concerned, it was withdrawn and the matter is closed there and ends there...I want the Yoga event to be remembered for millions and millions of people who have participated in it. I do not want any further controversy over it or any issue," he said in Jammu.
The Vice President's Office had clarified after the controversy that Ansari was not invited. "For us that's the end of the matter," it said.
However, for opposition parties which had lukewarm response to the Yoga day event cried foul.
Congress spokesperson RPN Singh said, "The Vice President has been targeted on International Yoga Day. While yoga is all inclusive, BJP has showed its divisive politics by such an action. Ram Madhav should apologise.”
AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmad attacked BJP and RSS for Madhav’s tweet saying that the latter was a representative of the RSS in the BJP.
NCP leader Majid Memon, said, "Is it because he is Muslim? The government and the PM must answer how a vice president was not invited. It is a serious omission."
BJP said the matter is closed as Madhav himself has clarified.
Meanwhile, Urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu also tweeted. "President proved to be the people's president once again, led by example on Yoga Day at Rashtrapati Bhawan and guided the nation."
