New Delhi:
Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor's comment on the social networking site Twitter about travelling cattle class and holy cows may have enraged the Congress, but the tweeting world is all support for him.
That's a good thing because his wit hasn't really translated well with politicians, either from his Congress or from the opposition BJP.
"It offended political and other sensibilities. We find this articulation unacceptable," said Jayanti Natarajan, Spokesperson, Congress.
Shashi Tharoor travelled in so called 'cattle class' last month before the austerity drive and his photographs have been now posted appropriately on twitter.
The Congress may be furious with Shashi Tharoor's views responding to a question on travelling cattle class but the tweetersphere is buzzing!
Tharoor's OSD Jacob Joseph has created a storm with his own twitter account where he writes rather exasperatedly.
He writes tweets: "Maybe they should invite a cow to join the panel discussion on TV. We are not a funny country."
Nearly all the comments on Mr Tharoor's account root for the Minister of State for instance.
- "Twittergate is what u get when u have an educated guy in a Cabinet of humorless twits."
- "English humor + outdated Indian political spokesmen is a dangerous combo. Avoid them!"
Congress spokespersons refused to comment today but the BJP is now in a twist over the tweet! Nevermind that the Oxford dictionary defines cattle class as a term to describe economy seats on a plane!
"Calling people cattle is insulting and such a man has no right to be a central minister," said Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
So, does a politician have a right to private loud thinking in what is essentially public space. Ask the ABC news anchor who posted President Obama's infamous jackass remark even though it was off the record.
So, whether its political naivety or straight talking, Minister Twitter may well be a term that the first time Minister of State will come to regret.