The Tamil Nadu Congress used the hashtag to accuse Modi of failing to choose truth and development, and instead choosing hate and bigotry.
Published Jul 27, 2022 | 8:11 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2022 | 2:02 PM
Despite BJP supporters and leaders countering the hashtag #VanakkamModi, the #GoBackModi seemed to have trended higher. (Supplied)
The Tamil Nadu corner of Twitter has — since 2018 — trended #GoBackModi each time the prime minister visited the state.
Therefore, it was no surprise when the hashtag resurfaced on Wednesday, 27 July. What was different, though, was the fact that some of the bite seemed to be missing.
Reason: This time the host is the ruling DMK dispensation, so Prime Minister Narendra Modi may inaugurate the 44th Chess Olympiad happening in Mamallapuram on 28 July.
That 27 July also happened to be the death anniversary of former President APJ Abdul Kalam could also have been a factor.
The Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress used the hashtag to accuse Modi of failing to choose the path of truth and development, and instead choosing the path of hate and bigotry.
We have lot of reasons to say #GoBackModi. We will say it again and again until he corrects himself and choose the path of truth & development instead of hate and bigotry. pic.twitter.com/6GWKFeJ4f6
— Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (@INCTamilNadu) July 27, 2022
Many Twitter users expressed their anger through the hashtag.
A verified Twitter user and a climate activist from Tamil Nadu, Sundararajan, tweeted, “Anna University was built with our funds for giving access to people of TN towards higher education at the international level, but you have enacted #NEET that discourages people of marginalised communities from getting into medical education; you are unwelcome at #annauniv #GoBackModi [sic]”.
The prime minister was to participate in the convocation ceremony of the College of Engineering of the Anna University on the Guindy campus.
Meme creators also had a field day on Twitter.
Tamil Nadu Twitter has been trending #GoBackModi since Modi visited the state in 2018 to inaugurate a defence expo in Thiruvidanthai near Chennai.
Political parties opposing the BJP — like the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam — once supported the tag but were silent this time.
That had not been the case when Modi visited Chennai on 26 May to lay the foundation stones of 11 projects worth over ₹31,500 crore.
This time, however, the DMK was in power, and Modi was its invitee.
Many users took to Twitter on Wednesday to condemn the DMK for its silence.
Independent journalist Sonia Arunkumar from Chennai tweeted, “If it is the opposition party, we will let the balloon fly if it is the ruling party, we will stop the balloon from flying….Who is he? [sic]”
எதிர்கட்சியாக இருந்தால் பலூன் பறக்க விடுவோம், ஆளும் கட்சியானால் பலூன் பறக்க தடைம்போம்….அவன் யார்?
— Sonia Arunkumar (@rajakumaari) July 27, 2022
DMK flew giant black balloons that said #GoBackModi when he visited Chennai on 2018.
However, this time the DMK instructed the police officials to be vigilant and take action against those trying to fly balloons, drones, and other uncrewed aerial objects opposing Modi.
Many users criticised the move as well.
Meanwhile, the DMK’s Mannargudi MLA TRB Raja took to Twitter to claim that the hashtag was trending because some Tamil news outlets published misleading news about a statement by Chennai Police.
However, his tweet invited backlash from some corners, as these people replied with a video clip of the Chennai City Commissioner who said action would be taken against those who indulged in acts opposing Modi.
“You would even say the police officer in this video clip is not the Chennai City Commissioner [sic],” a user countered.
https://t.co/eils1mdBpM இந்த வீடியோ லின்க்ல பேசுனவரு கமிஷ்னரே இல்லனு கூட சொல்லுவீங்க போல பாஸ் https://t.co/uLfa2j732q
— Vignesh Theni (@Vignesh_twitz) July 27, 2022
While DMK spokespersons refused to comment on this, Kovai Ramakrishnan from the Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam told South First that his organisation would always say #GoBackModi.
“The state government invited the prime minister, and so it is are silent on the trends, but considering what the state was subjected to by the fascist Modi government, we would never welcome him,” he said.
Ramakrishnan also condemned the arrest of one of the members of his social and political organisation.
He said pasting Modi’s image on the Chess Olympiad advertisement board was against the law.
“It is the state conducting the event; what is the need for the prime minister’s image on it?” he asked.
