Yearender 2021: From Kangana versus Diljit to Harbhajan-Amir feud, here’s a look at biggest Twitter wars

From (left to right): Kangana Ranaut, Harbhajan Singh and Priyanka Chaturvedi

The microblogging site continued to be a battlefield this year as well, the biggest of them being the spat between actors Kangana Ranaut and Diljit Dosanjh. While the year witnessed numerous such wars, we list the top five blow-ups that made the news.

Kangana Ranaut vs Diljit Dosanjh

After engaging in one of the biggest Twitter battles of 2020 over Kangana's false tweet on Shaheen Bagh activist Bilkis Bano, aka Bilkis Dadi, on being paid to protest at the farmers' agitation as well, the two actors locked horns again in 2021 after Dosanjh released a new song ‘Riri' dedicated to pop star, Rihanna in February, for the support she showed to the farmers. Kangana accused Dosanjh of trying to make money from the situation and called him a Khalistani.

After a barrage of barbs on the microblogging site, the ‘Udta Punjab' actor said he doesn't require a certificate from the ‘Manikarnika' actress to prove his patriotism and that he will never reply to Kangana's tweets again.

Government of India vs Twitter

In an unusual war, the Union government and the BJP entered a feud with Twitter in the background of the government asking the firm to take action against tweets and accounts in the aftermath of the Republic Day violence during farmers' protests. The feud continued after the government announced the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and escalated when Twitter failed to comply with the May 26 deadline to implement the rules.

The IT Ministry also had issues regarding Twitter promoting vaccine hesitancy, and the platform being used to create unrest in India. Twitter removing the blue tick against Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu's account before restoring it, briefly blocking IT minister Ravi Shankar's Prasad's account. and flagging BJP leader Sambit Patra's tweet as ‘manipulated media' further fuelled the fight.

After much back and forth, in September, the Centre told the Delhi High Court that Twitter has complied with the Information Technology Rules, 2021.

Harbhajan Singh vs Mohammad Amir

Pic/AFP

After Pakistan's record-breaking 10-wicket win over India in a T20 World Cup match on October 24, Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir took a dig at Harbhajan Singh and asked if he broke his TV following India's loss. The off-spinner was not impressed and shared a video of him hitting a six off Amir's bowling in a last-over win against Pakistan in the 2010 Asia Cup match.

In return, Amir taunted Singh by sharing a clip of getting hit for four sixes in four balls by Shahid Afridi in a Test match in 2006. The off-spinner then called Amir a fixer and a disgrace for his role in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.

Manish Tewari vs Priyanka Chaturvedi

The spat began when Congress leader Manish Tewari urged people to read a book written by journalist Tarun Tejpal, who was acquitted in a rape case by Goa court. He said Tejpal was maligned and politically persecuted for his alleged involvement in the rape case and welcomed his exoneration.

This didn't go down well with Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi. Without naming Tewari, the Sena leader quoted his tweet and wrote "sick mindset" and "shameful". The war of words continued as Tewari asked Priyanka to not cross the line of libel and defamation, and said he would be anguished to take a fellow MP to court. In response, Priyanka said she would not be cowed down by threats and ended the debate by refusing to engage with Tewari.

Anurag Kashyap vs KRK

Pic/Mid-Day Archives

In September, film critic Kamaal R Khan's (KRK) entertainment website, ‘KRK Box Office' shared the fake news of ‘Dev.D' director passing away. The account tweeted, #RIP #AnuragKashyap! He was really a great storyteller! We will always miss you, sir!'

Kashyap fired back at KRK and said he saw Yamraj yesterday and he himself dropped him home and told him to make more films. The ‘Manmarziyaan' director continued his tirade against KRK and also questioned his filmmaking skills.

Later, a tweet from ‘KRK Box Office' clarified that someone from their staff had confused Anurag Kashyap with someone called Anurag Kapoor.

Also Read: Yearender 2021: 15 most controversial statements of the year by national personalities