PM Modi made a surprise announcement that he will be going off social media
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise announcement of going off social media from Sunday has created quite a flutter on social media. Twitter exploded within minutes of the unexpected tweet that has left everyone speculating.
"This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube. Will keep you all posted," PM Modi tweeted. The tweet was liked over 25,000 times within half an hour.
Soon after, Opposition leaders' reactions started pouring in. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was one of the first to comment and said, "Give up hatred, not social media accounts."
Tripura Chief Minister and BJP leader Biplab Deb had a response to the former Congress chief's tweet.
"So that's the reason Sonia Gandhi doesn't have any Social Media account?" Mr Deb tweeted tagging Rahul Gandhi's tweet. Rahul Gandhi's mother and current Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is not on social media.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also responded to the Prime Minister. He said the abrupt announcement may have led many to speculate whether this is the first step towards banning social media in the country.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had a request for the Prime Minister soon after the tweet.
He was soon followed by colleague Alka Lamba who called the move a "big relief".
"Foreign leaders will just miss your congratulatory messages in different languages," she tweeted.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' wife Amruta also replied on Twitter saying that she will "follow the path" of PM Modi, indicating that she too will quit social media.
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti too replied to the Prime Minister saying that the move was "appreciated."
"The toxicity of this medium is a bane," he tweeted.
Gujarat politician Jignesh Mevani also had something to say to the Prime Minister. He asked PM Modi why was he quitting social media after the much publicised "Digital India" programme of the BJP government.
He also urged the Prime Minister to stop following accounts of hate-mongering people who disrespect women instead of quitting social media.
PM Modi, who is a social media celebrity with millions of followers on various platforms, did not elaborate the reason behind his sudden change of mind.
The Prime Minister's tweet to his whopping 53.3 million followers has kept everyone guessing. He posted the announcement on his Facebook and Instagram accounts as well.