The Tale of 2 Trends: #ModiInsultsIndia vs #ModiIndiasPride

#ModiInsultsIndia top trended on Twitter for hours on Tuesday morning, amid anger over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments in speeches he made in Shanghai and Seoul.

By evening, however, it had been knocked right off the India trending list and #ModiIndiasPride was racing to the top.

By this time, #ModiInsultsIndia was eyeing the 100K level at a whopping 85K tweets around it. And it was still trending worldwide.

But #ModiIndiasPride, clearly a counter-effort by PM Modi's many fans on Twitter, already had 52,000 tweets around it.

We are proud to have @narendramodi as face of the Indian government #ModiIndiasPride

- Arvind Gupta (@buzzindelhi) May 19, 2015

No wonder #ModiIndiasPride.. A very hard working PM who has not taken a single vacation day in full year. #ModiAtOnepic.twitter.com/yQWdGVCOik

- Kiran Kumar S (@KiranKS) May 19, 2015

The PM had said in Shanghai, China, on Saturday, "Earlier, you felt ashamed of being born Indian. Now you feel proud to represent the country. Indians abroad had all hoped for a change in government last year."

Saturday, May 16, was the first anniversary of the spectacular victory that PM Modi and his BJP posted in the national elections.

In Seoul, South Korea, he said yesterday, "There was a time when people used to say we don't know what sins we committed in our past life that we were born in Hindustan. Is this any country, is this any government...we will leave. There was a time when people used to leave, businessmen used to say we can't do business here. These people are ready to come back. The mood has changed."

In both cities the PM was addressing receptions hosted by the Indian community during his three-nation foreign tour.

Many sought to remind the PM that their pride in being Indian has nothing to do with which political party is in power.

And regardless of who the PM is or which party is in power..I will always be a proud Indian Mr @narendramodi ! #ModiInsultsIndia

- (@Komal_Indian) May 19, 2015

Ppl may dislike many things happening in India.Go abroad for better opportunities.But they're NOT ashamed of being Indian. #ModiInsultsIndia

- Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) May 19, 2015

Respected PM, when you are on a foreign tour, do remember that you are representing a nation, not your political party. #ModiInsultsIndia

- Dipankar #LDL (@deep_anchor) May 19, 2015

There are those who have attempted to defend the PM, who is still away on his tour of three Asian countries, though they are heavily outnumbered:

#ModiInsultsIndia keep harping for the next 9 years min., losers. My PM will keep working harder and harder for the country's development.

- Anirudh (@eaniman) May 19, 2015

Propaganda against a good man has limit.It can't undone the good work done by an individual.I am not proud indian if I say #ModiInsultsIndia

- swami prasad atwal (@swatwal75) May 19, 2015

Leaders of rival parties, particularly the Congress, are periodically tweeting around #ModiInsultsIndia, to keep the momentum going:

#ModiInsultsIndia is a worldwide top trend because it has offended the sensibilities of every Indian. A national disgrace beyond description

- Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) May 19, 2015

India was not ashamed despite your shenanigans in Gujarat. India is more, much more than you can ever understand #ModiInsultsIndia

- Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) May 19, 2015

Commenting on PM Modi's speech in China, senior Congress leader and former union minister Kapil Sibal said in a press conference today, "Don't think such an incident ever happened before where a PM says on foreign soil that it's unfortunate to be born in India."

"Such a downfall of discourse in politics is something I've never witnessed before in politics," he added.