On Saturday, Twitter removed a video uploaded by Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to ‘Janata Curfew’. The microblogging website removed Tamil Superstar’s video after it found factual discrepancies in his post about the cycle of infection of COVID-19.
After Rajnikanth’s video was removed, #ShameonTwitterIndia started trending on Twitter. In a video message supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for an 14-hour ‘Janata Curfew’ on Sunday, Rajinikanth said staying indoors during the curfew period will break the coronavirus chain, which he claimed had a survival life of only 12 to 14 hours on any surface. The statement violated Twitter’s rules on misinformation.
According to scientists, the coronavirus can remain on a surface for days. The scientists have also found out that a person can contract infection by touching a surface or object with the virus on it.
After the video message was removed, fans of Rajnikanth took to Twitter to express their anger against the microblogging website. One user said, “Shame on you. How dare u can remove the tweet? He is a legend in India.” While other user said, “Please review your decision @Twitter. Is it your system flaw? A good social message is removed because of wrong reporting…”
Here’s what Twitter had to say:
#ShameOnTwitterIndia
Shame on u. How dare u can remove the tweet
He is a legend in India pic.twitter.com/l5qcY2i6GA
— Rajesh SP (@RajeshSP17) March 21, 2020
Please review your decision @Twitter Is it your system flaw?
A good social message is removed because of wrong reporting…@TwitterIndia #ShameonTwitterIndia pic.twitter.com/BdqV7c21o0— Sridhar B S (@bssridharca) March 21, 2020
Why did you remove Mr.Rajnikanth video. Nothing was wrong in that. Informative one should reach many people. #shameontwitterindia pic.twitter.com/ax1yaKQkth
— Ravichandran (@ravilasa) March 21, 2020
An important video saying “I support Janata Curfew” by Rajinikanth was removed! Why?? #ShameOnTwitterIndia !! pic.twitter.com/Tn1Xca7NVG
— Priya J ப்ரியா ஜெயகோபி (@PriyaAryaputri) March 21, 2020
#shameontwitterindia
What’s the reason.. Why did u remove @Thalaivar post… How much DMK+PK paid TwitterIndia?
Rules ah Follow Panna Sonnadhu Thappa…
pic.twitter.com/Vdr0GVHErF— ✌️ (@Arun_VfxTwitz) March 21, 2020
The entire world worrying about #Coronavirus
Entire people scared about #CoronavirusPandemic
But @TwitterIndia ?
Cheapest act by them removing #Covid_19 awareness video posted by @rajinikanth #ShameonTwitterIndia
— பூரியார் ¶¶¶|||•• செவிட்டு தவளை ••|||¶¶¶ (@Imtweetygoose) March 21, 2020
#Rajinikanth#ShameonTwitterIndia
You can delete the tweet (because of mass report by dmk slaves and bots)
But you can’t delete his speech@twitterindia pic.twitter.com/12A4luYElD— Rajinism (@Rajinism1) March 21, 2020
#RAJINIVoiceForGoodCause
Rajinikanth didn’t say virus will be destroyed within 12-14 hours. He clearly said we could avoid a “Stage 3 situation.” Its about not worsening the intensity of virus spread.We demand an explanation @TwitterIndia. #ShameonTwitterIndia #Rajinikanth pic.twitter.com/vuZoW1KthI
— Srisai Venkatesh (@Srisaissv) March 21, 2020
We Need Explanation Guys!!!!#ShameonTwitterIndia pic.twitter.com/zyogAxLCd7
— visalpranav (@visalpranav) March 21, 2020
On Saturday, Rajinikanth backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Janta Curfew’. Tamil Superstar appealed to people to stay indoors. In a video message, the 69-year-old actor said that India is approaching stage 3 and if people follow the Janata Curfew for 14 hours, it could stop the spread of coronavirus from stage 2 to stage 3.
“We can prevent the virus entering third stage if people stay indoors and for that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Janta Curfew on March 22,” Rajinikanth said in a video message. The actor also praised medical professionals, saying they were working selflessly to prevent the spread of the virus and “as per the words of Prime Minister let us join to appreciate them and pray for their well-being at 5 pm on March 22.”