Clarion India
DUBAI – Indian embassies in Gulf countries, which have close socio-economic and political ties to India, are increasingly cautioning Indians living in GCC states against posting hate-filled and extremist messages on social media platforms.
The latest missive came from the Indian mission in Oman. “The friendly relations between India and Oman are underpinned by our shared values of tolerance and pluralism. Let us all commit to maintaining unity and social harmony at this critical juncture.”
The friendly relations between India and Oman are underpinned by our shared values of tolerance and pluralism. Let us all commit to maintaining unity and social harmony at this critical juncture. As PM @narendramodi said: We are in this together. 2/2 https://t.co/uN6cy5rSq0
— India in Oman (Embassy of India, Muscat) (@Indemb_Muscat) April 22, 2020
Of late, there has been a marked increase in the number of highly offensive, Islamophobic posts by some Indians living in the UAE and other Gulf countries, chiefly on Twitter and Facebook. As a result of these posts, and due to the fact that the hate-mongers were called out by other social media users and publications such as Gulf News, a handful of these people have lost their jobs while others have swiftly taken down their posts or have closed their accounts altogether. Many social media users have tagged the employers of such people in their complaints, who in turn have taken swift punitive action.
In a tweet yesterday, the Indian embassy in Qatar also took cognizance of the issue, but adopted a slightly different stance, implying that anti-India forces were trying to divide people. “It is clear that fake identities are being used by forces inimical to India, to create divisions within our community. Please understand the reality and do not get swayed by these malicious attempts to sow discord. Our focus right now needs to be on COVID-19.”
Much of the vitriol can be traced back to an atmosphere of blind hate against Muslims that large sections of the Indian media, particularly TV news channels, have tried to create back home. Currently, that campaign has resorted to blaming Muslims in India for the spread of COVID-19.
It is clear that fake identities are being used by forces inimical to India, to create divisions within our community. Please understand the reality and do not get swayed by these malicious attempts to sow discord. Our focus right now needs to be on COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/dVJnAr0Z4N
— India in Qatar (@IndEmbDoha) April 21, 2020
