New Delhi: As India’s former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh turned 88 on Saturday, Twitter was divided in its discernment of the veteran Congress leader.
The majority greeted Dr Singh and wished him well, while some targeted him with a troll campaign #राष्ट्रीय_गूंगा_दिवस.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with other politicians, celebrities across the spectrum, wished Dr Singh on Twitter. “Birthday greetings to Dr Manmohan Singh Ji. I pray to Almighty that he is blessed with long and healthy life,” the PM tweeted.
India feels the absence of a PM with the depth of Dr Manmohan Singh. His honesty, decency and dedication are a source of inspiration for us all.
Wishing him a very happy birthday and a lovely year ahead.#HappyBirthdayDrMMSingh
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 26, 2020
Dr Singh was India’s 14th Prime Minister, and the first Sikh to assume office. Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, West Punjab — which is now part of Pakistan — he served two terms as PM between 2004 and 2014. After Partition, his family migrated to India.
Dr Singh is credited with piloting the 1991 economic reforms, as India’s Finance Minister, under the PV Narasimha Rao-headed government. He is currently a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan.
During his tenure as PM, critics and opposition leaders labelled him a “mute” and “weak” Prime Minister. That is where the #राष्ट्रीय_गूंगा_दिवस trolls are arising from. Many have posted his picture with the caption that the video is silent.
Here are some of the tweets, greeting as well as deriding Dr Singh:
Greetings to former Prime Minister and Economist Dr. Manmohan Singh ji on his birthday. Wishing him good health and more productive years in public life.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 26, 2020
Why this photo is looking silent ??aree video bhi silent hi hai 😅😅😅#राष्ट्रीय_गूंगा_दिवस pic.twitter.com/lOYXnlcADe
— Troll troll troll troll troll troll (@memeskashowroo2) September 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/bhargava_vishal/status/1309774975457402881?s=20
This video has no sound#राष्ट्रीय_गूंगा_दिवस pic.twitter.com/f1BpuFFzLT
— रljeev🇮🇳 (@RajeevTiwariIND) September 26, 2020
