Yesterday, in a rather interesting match, France defeated Croatia to lift the FIFA world cup. While the French celebrated and the Croatians got applauded for a series well played, here in India, Kiran Bedi, ex IPS officer, BJP politician and the current Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry courted controversy.
After France’s win, Kiran Bedi tweeted some bizarre comments congratulating Puducherrians for France’s victory.
https://twitter.com/thekiranbedi/status/1018544385108082689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
She also tweeted about the “memorable and historical bond with France” and how Puducherry “wanted France to win”.
https://twitter.com/thekiranbedi/status/1018661838777708544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
In 1674 French East Company set up trading centre at erstwhile Pondicherry and has colonised the Indian Union Territory. Their exit came after massive civil agitation. For example, In 1787 and 1791, farmers of Karaikal agitated against the heavy land tax imposed by the French.
For an Indian Governor to now celebrate France’s victory owing to the illegal colonisation of Indian Territory did not sit well with Netizens who sharply called out Bedi’s stand and her ‘colonial mindset’.
One netizen reminded her of the deeply anti-Hindu legacy of French colonialists in Puducherry.
https://twitter.com/AgentSaffron/status/1018569173386039297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Some also shamed Bedi for celebrating colonialists as it insulted the ones who fought hard to free Indian territory.
https://twitter.com/neha_aks/status/1018550670092374022?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Others reminded Bedi that the French not only colonised Puducherry but also collaborated with the genocidal Tipu Sultan.
https://twitter.com/LalitAmbardar/status/1018696674049449984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
She was also asked if she was celebrating a French victory because they were the colonisers of Puducherry, would she have celebrated if the British had won, considering they too illegally colonised India.
https://twitter.com/abhijitmajumder/status/1018568719243599878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/surnell/status/1018689555749359617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
It was indeed shocking to see the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry celebrate the colonisers who oppressed and illegally occupied Indian territory. It would bode Indian politicians well if they choose their words wisely and retract when they goof up. Something Bedi had not done till the time this article was published.