Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Ramya tweets on bandh, face backlash

Industrialist Kiran Mazumdar Shaw’s tweet about Friday’s bandh in Karnataka landed her in controversy, as many criticised her stand against the bandh. Later in the day, Ms Shaw tried to clear the air by publishing a series of new tweets in support of the bandh.

Ms Shaw had on Friday tweeted “another Bandh — Its now Bandhaluru where bandhs r affecting productivity — what a sad situation where farmers on both sides cant share”.

However, following a heavy backlash to her comments, she deleted the tweet.

She then followed up by saying that Karnataka’s needs come before the Cauvery. She added that she hoped both state governments would resolve the protracted dispute amicably.

“We are observing the bandh in solidarity with the people and farmers of Karnataka who are facing water challenges. Hope the two states resolve this dispute amicably.”

When asked on Twitter why she had deleted her earlier tweets on the bandh, Ms Shaw replied, “Because it was misinterpreted. I have only commented on non-violent dispute resolution and people are distorting it. Please read my message without believing the media twist. I have always stood by the farmers and people of Karnataka.”

Kannada actress and Congress leader Divya Spandana, known as Ramya, also landed in trouble over her latest tweet on the bandh. Undeterred, she hit back at her detractors, telling them to “stop misinterpreting, misquoting and spreading lies. If you can’t understand, ask — I will clarify. I have the patience to help you understand.”

“I am using social media to communicate directly with people because I can’t rely on the media to be fair to me, as many of you have pointed out,” Ms Ramya added.

She continued, “Our government kept their word and released water for drinking and irrigation, and as the pictures show, farmers were back in the fields,” she added.

She added, “My work involves making sure our farmers have water for irrigation. Karnataka CM has already released water for this..”