PM Modi participated in the “Hello, Modi!” event in Houston, Texas, in September last year (Archive)
New Delhi:
US President Donald Trump’s comment on “dirty air” in India, made during a presidential debate on Friday morning, has sparked countless reactions on Twitter, with opinions ranging from gloomy acceptance of an issue. pollution in the country to the excavations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his “great friendship” with the US president and the “Hello, Modi!” event.
Trump, who last month greeted his “great friend” Prime Minister Modi and called for the support of American Indians who voted in next month’s election, referred to “dirty air” in India today when defending his decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement. a key global agreement to combat climate change by reducing CO2 emissions, among other measures.
“… Look at India. The air is dirty. I got out of the Paris Agreement because we had to get billions of dollars and they treated us very unfairly,” he said.
The comment led to both “#FilthyIndia” and “Howdy, Modi” trending online in the country, with many posting photos of polluted cityscapes to highlight their concerns.
“It’s painful, but we can’t force anyone to respect us. Respect earned is not required. Hands together. Our next goals should be: 1. Discourage private fossil fuel vehicles. 2. Subsidize public transportation. 3. Promote vehicles. 4. No zones for vehicles 6. Public transport day, “tweeted one user, attaching an aerial shot of a smog-covered Delhi with the national flag waving in the background.
#FilthyIndia ????
It is painful, but we cannot force anyone to respect us.
Respect earned not required. ????????Our next goals should be:
1. Discourage private fossil fuel vehicles.
2. Subsidize public transport
3. Promote electric vehicles
4. Areas without vehicles
6. Public transport day pic.twitter.com/grS9Owh3WV– Paras Bhardwaj (@officialparasb) October 23, 2020
One user took screenshots of the central government app for monitoring air pollution levels in the national capital and compared them to a similar app for the US capital, Washington, DC.
“Delhi’s Air Quality Index is 567 … Washington DC’s Air Quality Index is 25 – Image 1: Delhi, Image 2: Washington DC … And we are to blame. We need to change our ways. Don’t give in “less pollution” gyaan only on Diwali. Follow that lifestyle all year long, “the tweet read.
Delhi’s Air Quality Index is 567
Washington DC’s Air Quality Index is 25
Image 1: Delhi
Image 2: Washington DCAnd we are to blame. We need to change our ways.
Don’t give gyaan “less pollution” just on Diwali. Follow that lifestyle all year long.#FilthyIndiapic.twitter.com/4birxOo5QM
– Vaidehi ???????? ???? ️ (@dharmicverangna) October 23, 2020
A third user urged the government to spend less money on “mandir, statue, etc.” and take action to combat pollution and climate change.
Why our government does not accept climate change. Instead of spending money on mandir, statue, etc., the government should take action to fight pollution and climate change. See how polluted the air is in Delhi #FilthyIndia#GoBackModipic.twitter.com/OM8vmhbcVd
– IamManvi (@ManviIam) October 23, 2020
Air quality in the national capital has come under scrutiny in recent days, as stubble burning in nearby states like Punjab and Haryana increases pollution levels. At this time last year, Delhi was declared the most polluted city by IQ Air Visual, a portal that tracks global levels of air quality.
Congressional leader Kapil Sibal was one of those who tweeted mocking Prime Minister Modi for his “Hello, Modi!” event. He wrote: “Trump: Fruits of Friendship: 1) Question the Covid death toll in India, 2) Say India sends dirt into the air … India air is ‘dirty’, 3) Flame to India “king of tariffs” … result of “Hello, Modi!”
Trump: fruits of friendship
1) Question the death toll from COVID in India
2) It says India throws dirt into the air
India “the air is dirty”3) Called India “king of tariffs”
The result of “Howdy Modi”!
– Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) October 23, 2020
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States last year (and Trump’s in February this year) was touted as proof of a good relationship between the two nations. Trump has frequently praised Prime Minister Modi and “amazing” India since then, particularly when he persuades Native Americans to vote for him.
All those accolades, however, did not appear to be apparent during the final presidential debate.
Lead researcher and columnist Michael Kugleman asked: “After Trump’s multiple unflattering references to India in these debates, will Narendra Modi reconsider the endorsement he appeared to offer candidate Trump at the ‘Howdy Modi’ party some time ago?”
After Trump’s multiple unflattering references to India in these debates, will Narendra Modi reconsider the endorsement he appeared to offer candidate Trump at the “Howdy Modi” party some time ago?
– Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) October 23, 2020
One user posted a photo of Prime Minister Modi hugging Trump, with the caption: “After this event (a reference to ‘Hello Modi!’) Trump called India ‘disgusting’.
After this event, Trump called India “Dirty” #HowdyModipic.twitter.com/tXkX1nmPvd
– Faslu ???? (@ Fasluvk1) October 23, 2020
Another user also referred to Trump’s visit in February, when the government reportedly spent large sums of money to beautify neighborhoods.
#HowdyModi Our government spent a lot to cover the slums and make arrangements for their recent visit. Now we and our country seem dirty to him.
– SyedG (@ireyann) October 23, 2020
This is the second time Trump has made a critical reference to India during a presidential debate. In the first debate, he questioned the accuracy of the coronavirus data from India.
Sibal’s third comment on the “fruits of friendship” was a reference to an October 2018 comment by Trump, when he lashed out at the “king of tariffs” India for imposing “high tariffs” on American goods.
The US presidential elections are scheduled for November 3. About 46 million have already voted in the first polls amid COVID-19 fears.
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