Kolkata, The digital age is an era of information, but alongside it comes the proliferation of misinformation. Recent events surrounding Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra exemplify this very aspect of the digital age.
Photos showing Moitra and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor at a dinner have gone viral on social media platforms. While photos of politicians dining together might be ordinary in any other context, the cropping of these images has given rise to a slew of conspiracy theories and trolling.
Whats cooking between Shashi Tharoor and Mahua Moitra?? 😉😂🍻🍸 #HaramiMahua #ShashiTharoor #MahuaMoitra pic.twitter.com/wg10lxM3EJ
— Rosy (@rose_k01) October 14, 2023
The Photos in Question
The pictures that have captured netizens’ attention feature Moitra and Tharoor, along with others, dining at an unidentified restaurant. One of the photos has been particularly focused upon, showing Tharoor and Moitra raising a toast together, with another individual cropped out of the frame.
However, the West Bengal Parliamentarian has pointed the finger at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly sharing these cropped pictures, leading to misleading interpretations. Moitra’s response is summed up aptly in her tweet, where she states, “I like green dress better on me than white blouse. And why bother cropping – show the rest of the folks at dinner as well.”
Why is #HaramiMahua trending??
Pls don’t use this hashtag #HaramiMahua
I condemn this trend of #HaramiMahua pic.twitter.com/TbTXQ8cTbO
— Arvind Kejriwal(श्री 420) (@arvindKejri420) October 15, 2023
The Smoking Controversy
Amplifying the controversy is another circulating photo of Mahua Moitra, wherein she appears to be holding a cigar and drinking champagne. While the photo has led some to caution her about the health risks of smoking, Moitra has clarified she wasn’t smoking but posing jestingly with the cigar due to an allergy to smoking.
I wonder why #HaramiMahua is trending ? Please don’t like this tweet mutra will get upset pic.twitter.com/NXK1lUMj9S
— JIX5A (@JIX5A) October 15, 2023
#HaramiMahua Laud mouth Mahua, is this true that large cigars helps ‘condition’ your voice to be so “loud”, when you shout and scream at others? Is that what you are doing here? Conditioning your voice? 🤪🤣
❗️🚨Fans of motor mouth, pls stay away from Cigars as “Smoking is… pic.twitter.com/dOCsIUl2pA
— Tathvam-asi (@ssaratht) October 15, 2023
Moitra’s Bold Response
Never one to shy away from controversy, Moitra took to Twitter, a platform where political discourses often take a heated turn, to address the issue head-on. She directly addressed the BJP’s alleged role in spreading the photos, demanding the party share the full, uncropped images.
Her tweet reads, “Most amused to see some personal photos of me being circulated on social media by @BJP4India’s troll sena… Bengal’s women live a life. Not a lie.” This statement not only refutes the claims and trolling directed at her but also highlights the spirit of Bengal’s women, who lead authentic lives regardless of the rumors surrounding them.
Most amused to see some personal photos of me being circulated on social media by @BJP4India ‘s troll sena.
I like green dress better on me than white blouse. And why bother cropping – show rest of the folks at dinner as well.
Bengal’s women live a life. Not a lie.— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) October 15, 2023
The Bigger Picture
This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges that come with the digital age. Cropped photos, misleading captions, and rampant speculation can paint a narrative far from the truth. It underscores the importance of responsible sharing and the need to verify before spreading potentially misleading information.
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In an era where pictures can be worth not just a thousand words, but potentially a thousand rumors, it is essential to view them with a discerning eye and ensure that personal biases do not overshadow the truth.