Kiran Bedi faces flak after she congratulates Puducherry residents for France’s World Cup win
Some Twitter users wondered how the governor could praise the Union Territory’s former colonial rulers while others called for her resignation.
Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi congratulated residents of the Union Territory, which is a former French colony, after France won the final of the FIFA World Cup 2018 on Sunday.
We the Puducherrians (erstwhile French Territory) won the World Cup.
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) July 15, 2018
👏👏🤣🤣 Congratulations Friends.
What a mixed team-all French.
Sports unites.
Several Twitter users berated Bedi, with some accusing her of “publicity stunts” while others wondered how she could praise India’s colonial rulers. Some also called for Bedi’s resignation.
Are you crazy?
— the common man (@ni30y) July 15, 2018
Proud moment that will be when India will win FiFa worldcup
We are Indians Madam. Your publicity stunts need to stop..
— KPL_Leader (@KplLeader) July 15, 2018
You are happy that we were French colonial...and we idiots from Delhi dreamt of making you Chief Minister..anyways I thought u became Governor of Indian territory...but... leave it....
— Abhishek Raja (@abhishekrajaram) July 15, 2018
Such a low level tweet is NOT expected even from @ArvindKejriwal !
— Girish Joshi (@girish_joshig) July 15, 2018
What a joke made of a constitutional post that too by the first wonan IPS officer of India !
First thing u shd do in the morning is to sign ur resignation Ma'm !@rashtrapatibhvn@PMOIndia @narendramodi @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/Xjx8GE7MQi
However, a few people also defended Bedi:
Look how united are Indians and French at #Pondicherry.. Watching @FIFAWorldCup .. And these fools are trolling for it. Can't they see ppl in peace? Anti national are these trollers madam. You don't worry, you are doing right. It's good to appreciate brotherhood madam. 👍🏻💐 pic.twitter.com/a4CT55m4xJ
— United We (@TrueFactsIndia1) July 15, 2018
But Bedi did not appear to be deterred by the criticism on Twitter. “Thousands of Puducherrians have maintained close ties with France. France also generously supports Puducherry in several ways,” she said in an apparent defence of her earlier tweet. “In Puducherry, we can build on this spirit of celebration by promoting football in the Union Territory, by organising inter-village, inter-town and inter-city football tournaments,” she added.
Good #MorningNutrition.
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) July 16, 2018
We in Puducherry wanted France to win d #WorldCup as d UT of Puducherry has a very memorable historical bond with #France.
Thousands of Puducherrians have maintained close ties with France. France also generously supports Puducherry in several ways @ANI pic.twitter.com/02o8zJ3l4S
Congrats my brothers & sisters in Puducherry.
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) July 16, 2018
We won.
In Puducherry we can build on this spirit of celebration by promoting football in UT by organising inter village, inter town and inter city football tournaments.
It costs just ONE ball to unite,as was visible in French Team pic.twitter.com/8K8PKziNnF