GAURAV SARKAR gaurav. sarkar@ mid- day. com IN the immediate aftermath of the Kunal Kamra- Arnab Goswami episode, which has not only further deepened the rift between the Left and Right, but has also led to the emergence of tertiary factions between ethicists and moralists, numerous parody accounts sprung up on Twitter in favour of the Mumbai- based stand- up comedian. These parody accounts showed their support in their own style u2014 by tickling the readeru2019s funny bone.
On u00ad anuary u20ac . , after IndiGo and three other airlines banned Kamra over him heckling Arnab Goswami, editor- in- chief of Republic TV, Twitter handle @ MrSledgeHammer retweeted Kamrau2019s video saying, u201c In light upon recent incident happened on Indigo flight we wish to inform that our union has taken unanimous decision of suspending Mr.
@ kunalkamra . . from riding in Tri Cycles for a period of six months. We would also demand him to give us back his childhood pic with Tricycle.u201d The tweet garnered over . , . . . likes and . , . . . retweets.
Speaking to mid- day, @ MrSledge- Hammer, said, u201c The purpose of this account, and all parody accounts, is to bring attention to facts u2014 about how the powerful government machinery is targeting an ordinary citizen over an innocuous incident. We intend to creatively highlight how the government taking revenge is laughable and worrying at the same time.u201d Another handle @ u00ad ungleeTx had tweeted: u201c In view of the incident onboard @ IndiGo . E, Uber India wishes to inform that conduct of @ kunalkamra . . was unacceptable. With a view to discourage such behaviour onboard, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from travelling on any Uber cab until further notice.u201d This one had over . , . . . likes and nearly . . . retweets. @ u00ad ungleeTx told mid- day, u201c I created this parody account to put forward my views after I got involved in political topics. The biggest advantage of having a parody account is that no one of opposing ideology gets to know your personal information. And the intended message spreads faster, while also being humorous.u201d u201c I guess Kamrau2019s actions boosted the confidence of Leftists. Also, most parody accounts very well know what kind of a journalist Goswami is,u201d said @ u00ad ungleeTx.
Another handle, @ huntbhai, had banned Kamra from Delhiu2019s DTC buses.
u201c In view of the incident onboard @ IndiGo . E, Delhi transport corporation wishes to inform that conduct of @ kunalkamra . . was unacceptable, With a view to discourage such behaviour onboard, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from traveling on any DTC Bus until further notice,u201d read the tweet. This one got over u20ac , . . . likes. u201c When critics donu2019t do their work properly, then we, the common Twitter handle( s), have to put forth what the u20ac . st- century youngsters think about. We are living in the worldu2019s largest democracy but the Kamra- Goswami tussle is a mockery of freedom of expression. Our beloved central government and the airlines are acting as if Kamra committed a serious crime.u201d u2018 Parody accounts on Twitter speak for todayu2019s youthu2019 Parody Twitter accounts give their two cents on Kamra- Goswami episode and how due process has u2018 become a jokeu2019 Arnab Goswami; ( right) Kunal Kamra
