Aam Aadmi Party MLA Alka Lamba, who has earlier taken to Twitter to express her displeasure at being unfollowed by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal followed by removal from WhatsApp group, today took to the social media platform to be casually racist against Nepalis.
प्रिय #भारतवासियों
“कृप्या इस बार #प्रधानमंत्री चुनियेगा,#चौकीदार तो #नेपाल से भी मंगवा सकते हैं”.नेपाल के #चौकीदार #चोर नही होते ;).#LokSabhaElections2019
— Alka Lamba (@LambaAlka) March 12, 2019
In a bid to take a dig on Prime Minister Modi and toeing the Congress President line of referring to PM Modi as ‘chowkidar’ (watchman), Lamba said, “Dear Indians, this time, please elect a Prime Minister. You can get a watchman to Nepal also. Watchmen from Nepal are not theives.” She then added a winking emoji as if she has said the wittiest thing ever.
Her casually racist tweet, however, has not gone down well with people. She was criticised for her condescending remarks insulting an entire community.
Are you seriously that racist and unhinged?! Or that tone deaf and condescending and ignorant?!
You can make the exact same point without dragging another people, another country into this..
— Lavanya ಲಾವಣ್ಯ লাৱণ্যা (@TheSignOfFive) March 12, 2019
Some thought of returning in kind.
सही कहां दिल्ली वाले सीएम चुनिए गधा तो पाकिस्तान से भी मंगवा लेंगे
— Vinay Prajapati (@Vinay_P10) March 12, 2019
People from Nepal, too, didn’t take it lightly and were upset, rightly so.
Thanks for your appreciation but “Chaukidar” not found only in Nepal. Its racist comment. Dont link your politics for our country. https://t.co/QUCBLVEpEx
— Parajulee Gyanendra (@parajulee99) March 12, 2019
Didn’t see? the military from Nepal to protect India by sacrificing theirs every life as well many field involving ! FYI several Indian also working many kind job in Nepal every day. https://t.co/TQWbTm9CUL
— Jharendra Bdr Khadka (@jjkhadka) March 12, 2019
Her casual racism and blatant stereotyping has not gone down well and has received severe backlash even on other platforms.
This is not the first time Lamba has displayed her insensitivity. In November last year, she made a crass comment on Goa Chief Minister Parrikar’s health to spread canards about Rafale deal. Once, when a fire broke out in Chandni Chowk, the constituency she represents in the state assembly, she climbed the ladder of the fire brigade, delaying the rescue operations. Furthering her insensitivity, she later laughed on Twitter while sharing the news.