BJP today attacked Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for liking Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja M. Asif’s tweet criticizing Indian Army Chief, but the lawmaker clarified that the Like was meant to bookmark the tweet.
In his strongly worded tweet responding to Indian Amy Chief Bipin Rawt’s remark that the Indian force was ready to call Pakistan’s “nuclear bluff”, Asif said: “Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief,not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter.If that is what they desire,they are welcome to test our resolve.The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah.”
The BJP’s IT Cell head Amit Malviya later found that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had liked this tweet.
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“Shameful to see Shashi Tharoor liking tweets by ex Foreign Minister of Pakistan insulting India’s Army Chief! But then that is expected of the Congress leaders...(sic),” he said on Twitter.
Malviya was quick to correct the factual error in his tweet. “Oh wait! He is the current foreign minister, which makes it even worse!,” he tweeted in the same thread.
Soon, social media witnessed a backlash against Tharoor.
Tharoor was quick to react to it explaining what a ‘like’.
“We've all known how petty @BJP4India can be but this takes the biscuit. A "like" is a bookmark, not a sign of approval. I mark tweets i wish to return to when i have the time to deal with them. I have now finished a dinner engagement &dealt with it. Get a life @malviyamit !,” he said on Twitter.
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Not every time somebody likes a tweet does it mean endorsement. Sometimes it is to bookmark articles or statements on Twitter for reading or responding later when free. Otherwise it would be difficult to locate the tweet. The Like button is also increasingly used to prompt people to follow them and tell others that you have read their tweet.
