The Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s Finland trip has landed him in hot waters, with many on Twitter and other social media platforms, criticizing his ill-timed visit. Among the many reactions to this development, writer Chetan Bhagat’s tweet to Sisodiya caused quite a stir and the minister himself replied to the writer, leading to a string of tweets.
This is what Manish Sisodia tweeted after vehement criticism on Twitter regarding his Finland trip, where he went to study the education system of the country.
I am not on holiday as Mr Arnab Goswami and his political bosses are trying to propagate 10/n pic.twitter.com/AyvHtJpI3s
— Education Minister (@Minister_Edu) September 16, 2016
To fix the problems of Delhi’s education system, I’ll do whatever is needed. Whatever trolls may say! 9/n
— Education Minister (@Minister_Edu) September 16, 2016
But writer Chetan Bhagat was not buying it:
How to improve delhi schools: Better teachers, electricity, water and toilets. You need to fly First class to Finland to figure this out?
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) September 17, 2016
He went on to thrash Aam Aadmi Party:
Dear AAP supporters,b honest,did u ever expect AAP legislators who took metro to swearing in to fly 1st class to Finland on people’s money?
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) September 17, 2016
Sad to see AAP first class trip fiascos. Surprised how did it even happen? Will cost party dear. Right opp to what they proclaim to be.
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) September 17, 2016
Instead of making new political parties that turn out to be like rest if not worse,much better to focus on keeping existing ones accountable
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) September 17, 2016
Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was not far behind, with this reply:
अर्णब गोस्वामी और चेतन भगत में क्या समानता है? ‘आप’ के नाम पर दोनों एक जैसा झूठ बोलते हैं। https://t.co/XwONcQiocf
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) September 17, 2016
After which, he went on to ask Chetan Bhagat whether he had any factual evidence of the fact that fe flew first class or whether it was just based on what certain TV channels were claiming:
मेरे फर्स्ट क्लास में फ्लाई करने की अफवाह फैलाने के लिए @TimesNow एडिटर की तरह झूँठ क्यों बोल रहे हो? कोरी बकवास। https://t.co/OWG7vrXFfi
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) September 17, 2016
Chetan Bhagat was quick to respond to these allegations:
I am not a politician sir. I don’t need to lie https://t.co/hQIeVvmOok
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) September 17, 2016
Sir u can’t accuse people of being liars. Unbecoming of you or your position to troll. Incorrect facts? Clarify them https://t.co/1Uyo7YIxNh
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) September 17, 2016
He went on to ask for details of the trip from the Minister to clarify the issue in public:
Huge diff in saying facts incorrect and labelling someone liar. Anyway. Pl do give details of trips will b sorted https://t.co/0XSWRWEEoI
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) September 17, 2016
To which Manish Sisodia tweeted in reply:
आप बड़े और महान लोग हैं सर जी! हम तो बस ऐसे ही हैं। आपने इतना बड़ा ट्वीट किया है, कुछ तो सच आपके पास भी होगा ही ना। https://t.co/jDXtBIH2H1
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) September 17, 2016
Bhagat however stuck adamantly to his point:
Again u are not being straight sir. Such sarcasm and personal attacks won’t help. Who I am is irrelevant. Tell facts https://t.co/xjRds32y9Z
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) September 17, 2016
If u lay down facts and tix & prove u’ve never charged taxpayer for sightseeing will be happy to say Arnab was wrong https://t.co/K8Wf79NbDP
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) September 17, 2016
But Sisodia would not budge either:
बस इतना बता दीजिए कि आपने जब ट्वीट किया तो आपके पास मेरे फर्स्ट क्लास फ्लाई करने के कुछ फैक्ट्स थे या फिर ऐसे ही… https://t.co/jDXtBIH2H1
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) September 17, 2016
मैं तो फिनलैंड सरकारी खर्च पर आया हूँ। पर फर्स्ट क्लास में नहीं। लेकिन आपने सिर्फ अर्णब को देखकर तीर चला दिया? https://t.co/1Y2rVxBM7W
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) September 17, 2016
Finally, Bhagat tweeted:
Jab bhi Vaapis aao sir. Clarify kar do. For Finland or any other trips. Khatam baat. https://t.co/qW98fRV46S
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) September 17, 2016
But Siodia held his ground, asking Bhagat and others to not spread rumours based on inconclusive evidence:
पर गुजारिश आप से भी है सर जी! किसी को बेइज्जत करने से पहले थोड़ा फैक्ट्स आप भी चैक कर लिया कीजिए। अच्छा रहेगा। https://t.co/7CQ0Bs5Eno
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) September 17, 2016
And he also managed to have the last word:
फिनलैंड से घर लौट रहा हूँ। जिन समझदार लोगों को मेरी इस यात्रा से, गैर राजनीतिक चिंता पहुंची है उन्हें मेरी सलाह है… – 1/2
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) September 18, 2016
फिनलैंड से घर लौट रहा हूँ। जिन समझदार लोगों को मेरी इस यात्रा से, गैर राजनीतिक चिंता पहुंची है उन्हें मेरी सलाह है… – 1/2
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) September 18, 2016
The spat started after Times Now claimed they had videos of the deputy CM, holidaying in Finland. But the CM tweeted in reply:
Show the videos of the meeting that your reporter barged into, show what your reporter found me doing in my “holiday” in Finland! (n/n)
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) September 16, 2016
But even as the two, Bhagat and Sisodia, stopped tweeting at each other, the twitter saga has continued, with several users criticising Chetan’s attack on an innocent enough foreign trip, while others defending the writer for questioning dubious schemes employed by politicians. Many also criticised the ill-timing of the trip, with the various vector-borne diseases that are wreaking havoc in the city, bad roads and pollution.
Feature Image Source: Twitter/PTI