New Delhi: M Nageswara Rao, a former IPS officer and former CBI director, has sparked controversy over his “farewell” tweet regarding the death of Swami Agnivesh, who passed away on Friday (September 11, 2020).
The tweet that is no longer available because it violated Twitter Rules read: “Bon voyage @swamiagnivesh. You were an anti-Hindu wearing saffron clothes. You did enormous damage to Hinduism. I am ashamed that you were born as a Telugu Brahmin. Lion in dress sheep. My complaint against Yamaraj is why he waited so long. “
Since Rao tweeted this, he has been questioned about his ideology, the positions he held in the past, and how he can celebrate someone’s death.
By tweeting such hateful messages from a retired officer posing as an IPS officer, he has desecrated the police uniform he was wearing and embarrassed the government. It demoralizes the entire police force in the country, especially young officers. https://t.co/qOiI8D6dkO
– Police Foundation of India (@IPF_ORG) September 12, 2020
One historian wrote: “You are a disgrace. Can you imagine what you must have done as a police officer? Abusing the dead may be Hindutva, but it is certainly not Hinduism. Better late than never. Get treated.”
You are a disgrace. Can you imagine what he must have done as a police officer? Abusing the dead may be Hindutva, but it is certainly not Hinduism. Better late than never. Get a treatment. https://t.co/Shh4zlmduc
– S lrfan Habib (@irfhabib) September 12, 2020
Rao, who has stood his ground ever since, has been continuously responding to the criticism he faces.
Earlier in the day, he tweeted: “The basis of democracy is FoE, which Voltaire rightly said:” I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it to the death. “But lately, I know. honors more in default due to the growing intolerance of dissent, which is the real danger to democracy anywhere. “
The basis of democracy is FoE, which Voltaire rightly said:
“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it to the death.”
But lately, more in default is being honored because of the growing intolerance of dissent, which is the real danger to democracy anywhere.
– M. Nageswara Rao IPS (@MNageswarRaoIPS) September 13, 2020
Rao also stated that he does not believe in castes and is against caste, which is destroying Hinduism.
“I am Telugu, Hindu, and Indian all together in no particular sequence,” his tweet read.
I don’t believe in castes.
I am against the castes that are destroying Hinduism.
I am Telugu, Hindu and Indian all together in no particular sequence.నాకు కులగజ్జి లేదు. కుల
గజ్జి హిందూ మతాన్ని నాశనం చేస్తున్నది. హిందువులంతా ఒకటేనని, ఒకటి ఉండాలని నా ప్రగాఢ నమ్మకం. https://t.co/B1uMl2lz4o– M. Nageswara Rao IPS (@MNageswarRaoIPS) September 13, 2020
Rao, while responding to a message that said his tweet was “in bad taste”, wrote: “Why do we celebrate as festivals the days when the savages were dead? Because they are plagues that destroy society and their death is a reason for celebration. It was also to warn people not to patronize evil. Hinduism avoids अपात्र दानं and misplaced sympathy, as they destroy both the giver and the sympathizer. “
Why do we celebrate as festivals the days when the savages died? Because they are plagues that destroy society and their death is cause for celebration.
It was also to warn people not to patronize the bad guys.Hinduism avoids अपात्र दानं and misplaced sympathy, as they destroy the giver and the sympathizer. https://t.co/0r7cyyjkiP
– M. Nageswara Rao IPS (@MNageswarRaoIPS) September 11, 2020
Twitter is now divided among various officials, historians, social activists and other netizens over Rao’s tweet.
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