JOIN USThis is a backlash the BJP will find tough to counter in poll-season Kerala. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comparison of the state’s child mortality rate among its Scheduled Tribes with Somalia’s has triggered a Twitter hashtag which, basically, asks him to get lost.
On Wednesday, #PoMoneModi was trending on Twitter, with responses reflecting everything from sheer outrage over the skewed analogy to the statement’s possibly adverse impact on the BJP’s poll fortunes. Po mone (Just leave, son) is styled on Po mone Dinesha, an iconic Mohanlal punch-line from his 2000 blockbuster film “Narasimham”.
Twitterati posted charts with statistics and reports to highlight Kerala’s high human development indices and success stories in the health sector to question Modi’s statement. The prime minister had courted controversy during an election rally in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday when he compared the state’s ST child mortality rate with Somalia’s.
Many Twitterati created memes taking pot-shots at Modi and questioning claims of development in his own state Gujarat.
“PM compares one of his state to Somalia and he chooses the wrong state!! next time prepare and speak the facts #PoMoneModi #shame #kerala”, said one of the tweets. Sarcastic Facebook posts and tweets also referred to Somalia “appreciating” the comparison with Kerala.
The hashtag compiled what appeared to be reactions over “hurt pride” among Keralites.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has written to prime minister, requesting him to withdraw the statement. On Wednesday, Chandy said Modi should “correct himself” or be prepared for more reactions.
“I’ve written to him saying that two reports on the said incident (involving tribal children looking for food in garbage dumps in Peravoor in Kannur district) have clarified that it’s not true,” Chandy said in Thiruvananthapuram.
BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan defended the prime minister and said the reported incident reflected poverty in the state. “The chief minister is denying the reports only now, after the Prime Minister commented on it,” Rajasekharan said.