SHILLONG: Governor Tathagata Roy has once again created controversy by supporting a call for boycotting “everything Kashmiri” on Twitter in the wake of the Pulwama attack.
Roy, who is not new to controversies, quoted a retired colonel of the Indian Army in a tweet on Tuesday saying, “An appeal from a retired colonel of the Indian Army: Don’t visit Kashmir, don’t go to Amarnath for the next 2 years. Don’t buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri. I am inclined to agree.”
The governor followed it up with more tweets one of which read, “Vociferously violent reactions from media and several others to my echoing of a suggestion from a retired army colonel. A purely non -violent reaction to the killing of our soldiers by the hundreds and the driving out of 3.5 lakh Kashmiri Pandits.”
Another tweet read, “The Pakistan Army (who are handling the Kashmiri separatists) was among their own in East Pakistan in 1971. They slaughtered and raped right and left. And they would have kept EP but for the whacking from India. I am not suggesting that we go that far. But at least some distance?”
Roy’s comments drew sharp reaction from former
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah who said, “These are the bigots driving Kashmir over the abyss. While you are at it, Tathagata why don’t you stop using our rivers to generate your electricity as well?”
Another former chief minister of the northern state and People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti too lashed out at Roy saying the Centre should sack him immediately for the “deplorable” remark.
“Deplorable statement coming from the Governor of Meghalaya. GoI must sack him immediately. If they fail to do so, it means he has their tacit approval and are using it as an election ploy to polarise the situation,” she said on Twitter.
Many civilians are taking to social media like Facebook and Twitter to vent their ire over the killing of 40 CRPF jawans in Pulwama and a section is also supporting war on Pakistan. In fact, many Twitteratis have supported Roy’s views.
The opposition Congress in the state also reacted sharply to Roy’s comments.
Meghalaya Mahila Pradesh Committee president Joplin Scott Shylla, who led a candlelight vigil to pay homage to the CRPF jawans, demanded the governor’s recall for his controversial comments.
Stating that such a statement is not expected from a constitutional head, former minister Zenith Sangma said, “This kind of statement is not expected from a person who is holding the office of Governor. His responsibility and authority is to defend and protect the Constitution of India but these people want to divide the country on the basis of religion, caste and creed. Therefore, people having such kind of mentality are not fit to occupy such position.” (With inputs from UNI)
