Ever since the news came out that a pregnant elephant passed away after taking a bite at a pineapple filled with firecrackers, the entire nation has condemned the action of the individuals behind the brutal act. However, the attention is slowly being switched towards a different angle, that has got nothing to do with the killing.
The communal angle to the incident
The elephant death is reported to have happened in the area bordering the districts of Palakkad and Malappuram in Kerala. Apparently, many tweets are doing the rounds blaming the entire district of Malappuram for the act. The fact that 70% of Malappuram’s population are Muslims has given a communal touch to the discussions. BJP MP Maneka Gandhi called Malappuram a “violent district” and also highlighted the communal conflicts in the region. She was one of the first persons to have instigated this online conflict.
— Maneka Sanjay Gandhi (@Manekagandhibjp) June 3, 2020
It's murder,Malappuram is famous for such incidents, it's India's most violent district.For instance, they throw poison on roads so that 300-400 birds & dogs die at one time: Maneka Gandhi,BJP MP&animal rights activist on elephant's death after being fed cracker-stuffed pineapple pic.twitter.com/OtLHsuiuAq
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2020
#IStandWithMalappuram Trending
Maneka Gandhi’s comments led to a severe outrage on social media and several fact-checks also revealed that the killing of the elephant actually happened in the Palakkad district. However, there were a few sections who supported the BJP MP’s statement too. Gradually, the discussions drifted towards lynchings in North India and the media’s failure to highlight it. The tag #IStandWithMalappuram, later on, started trending on twitter.
Selective Outrage of Hypocrites…
Many people died while returning their homes…everybody was silent then.. yesterday when an elephant died accidently,the whole bhakts start crying..#Istandwithmalappuram pic.twitter.com/FwXr8GIIsB— ??കഋിവേപ്സ് ?? (@nishthvanth) June 4, 2020
#Istandwithmalappuram
Truth pic.twitter.com/d5Fyqmx1BT— Ajithkumar (@Ajithku17765804) June 4, 2020
Intentionally and very purposefully RW BJP brigade including their top leaders started blaming people of Mallapuram.
Can understand the feeling of people of that region…#Istandwithmalappuram from Asansol, West Bengal…
— Amartya… (@Amartya_13) June 4, 2020
Communalising things are hot and best selling nowadays!? #KeralaElephantMurder #IStandWithMalappuram pic.twitter.com/7xq2jI87vB
— Sha (@sharunsrk) June 4, 2020
#Istandwithmalappuram#WeLoveKerala
Retweet maximum ✌ pic.twitter.com/YMHvBeghLa— Ajithkumar (@Ajithku17765804) June 4, 2020
We are against the hate
Malayalam twitter #Istandwithmalappuram pic.twitter.com/tFze2ZBuDa— വളഞ്ഞസ്ക്രു (@bentscrews) June 4, 2020
Source: Twitter
