Twitterati attack Ravichandran Ashwin for tweeting about the Sri Lanka riots

In the first week of March, violence broke out in a number of Sri Lankan cities following the accident and death of a Sinhalese Buddhist truck driver in the hands of four Muslim youngsters. Anti-Islam groups of Buddhist followers continued to burn and damage Muslim shops and properties and even break down Mosques till the army sent troops to bring the situation under control. An emergency situation was deployed on March 6.

In the backdrop of such a volatile situation, people – commoners and public figures alike, have as usual taken to the social media to express their opinions, supports, grievances or simply prayers for the country’s people. Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin is no exception, and he took to Twitter on March 7 expressing his grief and hoping for the situation to get normal soon.

Ashwin wrote: “What’s happening in Sri Lanka is really sad, such a lovely country with such lovely people and surely this stand off between people with different beliefs will end soon. Let’s live and let live, important to accept differences and move on. praying for normalcy soon enough.”

What’s happening in Sri Lanka is really sad, such a lovely country with such lovely people and surely this stand off between people with different beliefs will end soon. Let’s live and let live, important to accept differences and move on. ?praying for normalcy soon enough.

— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) March 7, 2018

But as it turned out, a lot of his followers did not take his comment as a harmless note of solidarity. While some called him out for not saying anything regarding precious riots in his own country, some others trolled him for speaking about things that does not concern him. But there were some who thanked him as well

Here are some of the replies to his tweet that reflects the emotions of his followers:

Sir due respect but never have sympathy towards them as what they have done with our Tamil people in past

— Nisarg ♠ (@nisargkingp2) March 7, 2018

In 1983 black july for tamils /2009 may for tamils so now 2008 March for muslim.. so you didn’t care past 2009 don’t care 2008 also

— mayawan sivaselvam (@m7selva) March 9, 2018

Thank you @ashwinravi99 ❤

— chalanasadaruwan (@Chalan_a) March 8, 2018

Thats not a fight between people that is made by current rulers for their benefit

— Prabhath Wedage (@PrabhathWedage) March 9, 2018

I love ur thoughts sir

— asif qazi (@asifqazi5600) March 8, 2018

#sscscam speak a little about own country too sir. It's easy to speak on beliefs of people but not on problems faced by such people.

— Sanjay chaudhary (@JUSTICEFOR4SSC) March 8, 2018

Ji, good to see your concern felt for Sri Lanka issue.. Please do share your thoughts for issues faced in our state & country as well.. Need real GUTS..

— Justin Yuvaraj J (@JustinYuvarajJ) March 7, 2018

Mama, why did you not comments when communal riots were happening in India??? Scared???

— Desi Baba (@kastokan) March 8, 2018

My dear bro aswin we proud of you because you a tamilan but unfortunately here in Lanka Tamils separate Muslim separate

— mayawan sivaselvam (@m7selva) March 9, 2018

Thank You My Brother @ashwinravi99 Love From SriLanka……

— Bubbly Azra (@Azra73663701) March 9, 2018

Seems like sharing an opinion on social media is really getting tougher day by day, even if it is a peaceful and cordial one.

Amidst all that the Indian team is also in Sri Lanka to play the Nidahas Trophy – the T20 tri-series which includes Bangladesh as the third team. A young team led by Rohit Sharma is still a strong contender to win the trophy.

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