2021 witnessed numerous spats on microblogging site Twitter, we list the top five blow-ups that made the news
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.
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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.
2 Rupees 😂 Apne Wali Job Mainu Na Das.. Gana Tan half An Hour Ch Bana Lene An Asi..
— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) February 3, 2021
Tere te Banaun Nu Jee Ni Karda Mint tan 2 Hee Lagne an..
HAR JAGHA TU BOLNA HUNDA.. Ja Yaar Bore Na Kar .. Kam Kar Apna .. https://t.co/jWOIOkoRoE
Ley Koi Tukk Banndi aa Teri ...
— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) February 3, 2021
Na Koi Ser Na Pair ..
Rab Ni Banida Hunda.. Main Nahi Karne Dungi 😂
Tu Kon an Yaar... Dhakke Naal Hee aa Vadh Di an.. Ja Yaar ..
Teri Koi Gal Ni Kar RIHA .. https://t.co/MX4hwmKZPS
Ley ...Eh Chaundi aa Bai Banda Ede Naal Sara Din Lagga Rahe 😂
— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) February 3, 2021
Asi BHARTI AN 🇮🇳 Tu Kalli Ni Bharti..
Apna Answer Aap Hee Bana Ke Khush Ho JANDI aa 😂🤣
Avey Na Certificate Chaki Fireya Kar Ke Kali Tu Hee Desh Bhakt an..
🐑 Wolf Jaee Na Hove Tan 😂 https://t.co/3iqkQWL0MQ
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.
hello everyone woh pochna yeah tha @harbhajan_singh paa ji ne TV to ni tora apna koi ni hota hai end of the day its a game of cricket 😊.
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) October 25, 2021
Ab Tum bi bologe @iamamirofficial yeh 6 ki landing tumhare ghar k tv par to nahi hui thi ?? Koi nahi hota hai end of the day it’s a game of cricket as u rightly said 🤣 https://t.co/XqSnWhg9t3 pic.twitter.com/4IuWpPOpF1
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 26, 2021
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.
Lords mai no ball kaise ho gya tha ?? Kitna liya kisne diya ? Test cricket hai no ball kaise ho sakta hai ? Shame on u and ur other supporters for disgracing this beautiful game https://t.co/nbv6SWMvQl
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 26, 2021
Fixer ko sixer.. out of the park @iamamirofficial chal daffa ho ja pic.twitter.com/UiUp8cAc0g
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 26, 2021
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.
Today I got to know that Tarun Tejpal was ‘honorably exonerated’ and ‘politically persecuted’. To rubbish a woman’s sexual assault by this cosy club, smacks of their sick mindset. They believe they can behave as they wish around women and laugh off the serious crime. Shameful.
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) September 3, 2021
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.
It actually does @priyankac19 . It makes me acutely conscious about respecting rule of law & judgments delivered by Courts established under our Constitution.
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) September 3, 2021
Please do not cross the line of libel & defamation.I would be anguished to take a fellow MP & former Colleague to Court. https://t.co/vGNDt1XNpB
Ignorance of law is better than ignorance of morality. For the former one can has lawyers, the latter unfortunately can’t be taught, is ingrained. EOD, refuse to engage.
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) September 3, 2021
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.
कल यमराज के दर्शन हुए .. आज यमराज खुद घर वापस छोड़ के गए । बोले - अभी तो और फ़िल्में बनानी हैं तुम्हें । तुम फ़िल्म नहीं बनाओगे और बेवक़ूफ़/भक्त उसका boycott नहीं करेंगे , तो उनका जीवन सार्थक नहीं होगा। उनको सार्थकता मिले इसलिए वापस छोड़ गये मुझे। https://t.co/fHuZN6YQ5n
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) September 14, 2020
Later, a tweet from ‘KRK Box Office’ clarified that someone from their staff had confused Anurag Kashyap with someone called Anurag Kapoor.
We are very sorry that one of our staff misunderstood the name of #AnuragKapoor with #AnuragKashyap and published a wrong news about Anurag Kashyap Ji. RIP #AnuragKapoor Ji! 👏 https://t.co/8qIzLYaw5w
— KRKBOXOFFICE (@KRKBoxOffice) September 13, 2020
Also Read: Yearender 2021: 15 most controversial statements of the year by national personalities