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Why the 'Modi Toadies' are after Salman Rushdie Why the 'Modi Toadies' are after Salman Rushdie
(about 1 hour later)
Name: Modi Toadies.Name: Modi Toadies.
Age: Various.Age: Various.
Appearance: Everywhere!Appearance: Everywhere!
Also known as: Bhakts.Also known as: Bhakts.
What are Modi Toadies? A very bad pop group? They would be that as well, but no. Mainly they are devotees of the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi. They swarm around his critics, usually online, but sometimes in real life.What are Modi Toadies? A very bad pop group? They would be that as well, but no. Mainly they are devotees of the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi. They swarm around his critics, usually online, but sometimes in real life.
Which critics? Modi Toadies aren’t fussy. If you denigrate their hero, or his Hindu nationalist BJP party, you will reap your share of the whirlwind.Which critics? Modi Toadies aren’t fussy. If you denigrate their hero, or his Hindu nationalist BJP party, you will reap your share of the whirlwind.
Funny thing to call themselves, though, isn’t it? Actually, the name is used mockingly by one of their chief adversaries, Salman Rushdie.Funny thing to call themselves, though, isn’t it? Actually, the name is used mockingly by one of their chief adversaries, Salman Rushdie.
The author of Midnight’s Children, The Satanic Verses and a number of subsequent less famous novels? The very same. He popularised the term, which was in fact first used by the Indian writer Mihir Sharma in an article in 2012. “Here come the Modi Toadies,” Rushdie tweeted on Monday, for example, after he riled them by expressing his support for Nayantara Sahgal, another writer who had returned an award in protest at Hindu extremism in India.The author of Midnight’s Children, The Satanic Verses and a number of subsequent less famous novels? The very same. He popularised the term, which was in fact first used by the Indian writer Mihir Sharma in an article in 2012. “Here come the Modi Toadies,” Rushdie tweeted on Monday, for example, after he riled them by expressing his support for Nayantara Sahgal, another writer who had returned an award in protest at Hindu extremism in India.
Is this like the Milifans? Remember them? Ah, yes. I do remember them, but no, they were rather mild and sweet. These guys are more like the Cybernats – Scottish nationalist zealots – or the Corbynites – socialist ones – who are said to descend en masse on any opinions they don’t like the look of. Is this like the Milifans? Remember them? Ah, yes. I do remember them, but no, they were rather mild and sweet. These guys are more like the Cybernats – Scottish nationalist zealots – or the online Corbynites, who are said to descend en masse on any opinions they don’t like the look of.
Related: India’s war on Greenpeace | Samanth SubramanianRelated: India’s war on Greenpeace | Samanth Subramanian
And what have they got against Rushdie? Did they prefer his early novels? Actually, they might. In Midnight’s Children, he portrays Indira Gandhi as a kind of monster, and she was the leader of the Congress party, the main rival of Modi’s BJP. Then, in The Satanic Verses he annoyed some Muslims, and if there’s one thing Hindu nationalists enjoy, it’s annoying Muslims.And what have they got against Rushdie? Did they prefer his early novels? Actually, they might. In Midnight’s Children, he portrays Indira Gandhi as a kind of monster, and she was the leader of the Congress party, the main rival of Modi’s BJP. Then, in The Satanic Verses he annoyed some Muslims, and if there’s one thing Hindu nationalists enjoy, it’s annoying Muslims.
So he’s their enemy’s enemy and their other enemy’s enemy, but he is still isn’t their friend? No. It’s probably got something to do with the fact that Rushdie likes free speech and that, whereas Modi’s India takes a more selective approach. Rushdie has also spoken out against Modi specifically in the past.So he’s their enemy’s enemy and their other enemy’s enemy, but he is still isn’t their friend? No. It’s probably got something to do with the fact that Rushdie likes free speech and that, whereas Modi’s India takes a more selective approach. Rushdie has also spoken out against Modi specifically in the past.
Why is it that the more ardently people believe in their own righteousness, the worse they behave? I don’t think that needs answering.Why is it that the more ardently people believe in their own righteousness, the worse they behave? I don’t think that needs answering.
Do say: “Has Rushdie annoyed the Sikhs yet?”Do say: “Has Rushdie annoyed the Sikhs yet?”
Don’t say: “Give it time.”Don’t say: “Give it time.”