Controversial singer Chinmayi Sripada’s recent tweetstorm with a college student over the arrest of climate activist Disha Ravi who played a major role in the creation and dissemination of the Greta Thunberg ‘toolkit’, has sparked debate.
In her tweet, Chinmayi could be seen accusing a college student of being a member of the BJP just because she had spoken in support of the farm laws.
What started out as a harmless tweet by the student, questioning the singer’s opinions on the farmer empowerment laws, quickly blew out of proportion, as Chinmayi kept mocking the girl and even accused her of being a rape apologist.
Looks like Chinnmayi Akka seems only too concerned about who belongs to BJP and who does not, to substantiate her fight against rapists. Disappointing. Anyone questioning her ill informed views on Farm laws or other subjects, get immediately tagged as a BJP supporter+
— Shruthee M S (@MShruthee) February 18, 2021
The singer then went on to accuse the student of being “part of the problem” for not talking about Tamil actor Radha Ravi, who is accused of sexual harassment and had joined the BJP in 2019. Chinmayi also constantly referred to the BJP as “her party”. She added that the student did not have the “moral fibre” required to question misogyny.
YOU are complaining because I am calling ot misogynists and rape apologists in your party which you dont have the moral fibre to question. I have questioned politicians across the board. The evidence is on my timeline. You need to ideally not lie 🙂
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) February 18, 2021
If you support a party that fields rapists and molesters and turn a blind eye – no matter which party – YOU. ARE. ALSO. THE. PROBLEM.
Unga veettu kadhava Radha Ravi thattina teriyum. Unga party kaarar dhan. All the best. Save your Betis.
Thank you for your classy debates
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) February 18, 2021
However, the student clarified that Chinmayi may very well question actor Radha Ravi’s entry into the BJP, but should not label every supporter of the Centre’s farm laws as a ‘BJP supporter’ or a misogynist. The singer had earlier made allegations of sexual harassment, misconduct and inappropriate behaviour against Radha Ravi. She has also made similar accusations against Tamil poet and lyricist Vairamuthu, who works in the Tamil film industry and is also closely associated with the DMK.
I have not supported any party. She can question BJP for embracing Radha Ravi. I don't have a problem with it. But how does a farm bill supporter, get tagged as a BJP supporter, hence anti women make any sense?
— Shruthee M S (@MShruthee) February 18, 2021
Several netizens and prominent Twitterati came out in support of Shruthee and tweeted in support of her, sparking a vociferous debate.
Explaining this to non-Tamil folks. She charged Vairamuthu(court poet of Dravidian-Periyarist establishment) of sexual harassment. Leave alone any action, Dravidian-Periyarists dismiss her with derision terming it ‘Papathi (derogatory slang for Brahmin woman) conspiracies’ https://t.co/cKJ64epc3A
— Prasanna Viswanathan (@prasannavishy) February 19, 2021
BJP Tamil Nadu spokesperson SG Suryah said that it was convenient of Chinmayi to dismiss everyone disagreeing with her as a ‘BJP supporter’ and added that the slurs used by Chinmayi against a young college student were “unbecoming of [a] self proclaimed ‘feminist’ “.
Calling everyone dissenting as a BJP supporter is convenient toolkit? Fine. But, branding & labelling a young female college student just because she asks Qs is an Anti-Woman act aided by an indirect threat to silence her voice; this is unbecoming of self proclaimed ‘feminist’. https://t.co/jchkpJj693
— SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) February 18, 2021
Triggered by the massive outpouring of tweets against her, Chinmayi went on a rant criticizing the arrest of Bengaluru-based climate activist Disha Ravi.
It is alleged that Ravi had played a significant role in the creation and dissemination of the Greta Thunberg ‘toolkit’ and had spoken to foreign handlers via video-conference.
Disha’s friends Shantanu & Nikita are still absconding. Toolkit agenda is to create unrest, defame yoga, Indian tea & wanted people protest against Indian Embassies all over the world. Obviously none of this bothers @Chinmayi – like #FarmLaws you keep peddling lies. Pity. (2)
— SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) February 19, 2021
When the BJP spokesperson pointed this out, she accused him of ‘peddling lies’ and also shared an article criticizing the arrest of Disha Ravi.
Mr Suryah
Please read this. https://t.co/dYT7zZU18kI don't need to peddle lies as much as one entire section of people in India that claimed that the Hathras gangrape never happened neither do I need to prove my deshbhakti to you.
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) February 19, 2021
Even though she claimed to have read the ‘toolkit’, the singer dismissed the concerns voiced by many that the document’s creators were pro-Khalistani. She also side-stepped the fact that the document aims to build international pressure on India on social media.
2. The toolkit does not say anything about supporting SJF/Terrorism as has been propagated widely by many of you. I don't support SJF or terrorists. It's important to state this in black & while lest some of you start a 'chinmayi is a terrorist' propaganda like you did with Disha
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) February 19, 2021
It was an open source document with many people editing it
That's what has emerged. Anyway you all got your ONE villain 🙂— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) February 19, 2021
Ultimately, the singer blocked the student with whom she had had the initial disagreement.
Joined the Club @ikkmurugan. Requested her not to generalise critics of her farm law tweets as party typos supporting rapists, rather face their questions.
Ended up being called BJP sympathiser and someone who doesn't raise voice for women. pic.twitter.com/v9yawMDzTK— Shruthee M S (@MShruthee) February 19, 2021
Who asked you to prove deshbhakti? Did I? Cant you argue rationally at all without branding/labelling people? All your whining just shows you’re extremely depressed, disturbed & need care. I wish you are taken care. No more wasting time with a rabble rouser. Waste of tweets. End. https://t.co/DaQ0L3Lc2J
— SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) February 19, 2021
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