Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Feb 10: Eminent cartoonist Satish Acharya, who has been featured among 24 thinkers in Forbes India, has hit out at 'blind' supporters of Prime Minister Narendra for deliberately downgrading his cartoons that question polices of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and Modi.
Acharya who has made India smile with his satirical caricatures, saw a sudden drop in his Facebook star ratings on February 10 from 4.4 to 3.9, which he says is a work ‘cowardly blind-bhakts’. Meanwhile, in retaliation, some started rating his cartoons 5 out of 5.
Observing the rating war on his page between Modi fans and those who are anti-Modi, Acharya had to disable the star ratings.
In a Facebook post on Saturday February 10, Acharya being a good sport addressed the rating war on his Facebook page with humour again. "Modi Sarkar finally creates more jobs! More jobless youngsters are being hired to disrupt/downgrade facebook pages that criticise Modi governance, with negative reviews/ratings. Good Job, sir!"
He went on to add: "Dear blind-bhakts, if you think your coward adventure can scare or discourage me, sorry to disappoint you. Every such act gives me more strength, more determination and more energy to do MORE CARTOONS. The positive part is you're being forced to read my cartoons by your IT cell. Haha!"
Speaking to daijiworld, Acharya says that he never sides with a political party but questions polices of the central and various state governments with humour. "However, the people who used to share my cartoons whenever I questioned the polices of the UPA government, could not digest when the NDA government was questioned."
Asked how he could be certain it was the handiwork of Modi fans, Acharya said that as soon as the Facebook ratings hit a sudden decline, he checked the profiles of those who rated him and saw that messages were being shared alleging that his cartoons were 'biased'.
Acharya's post garnered support from netizens as soon as it went up. "Keep up the good work Sir, I don't believe you are anti anybody or prob anybody, your cartoons merely depict current affairs, if people want (to) believe we are in a perfect world and a perfect leader, who is beyond criticism, it is their wish. One can't be a political cartoonist and be PRO govt," one comment read.
"You are creating jobs, Satish! Be proud of it. We love your cartoons, regardless of who you criticize or mock," said another.
One of the commentators however took exception for mentioning Prime Minister Modi in the message. "Satish, i am a big admirer of your work. A bigger Modi fan. Sometimes, when uve criticised Modi, like recently, even id felt bad, but thats that. I didnt downgrade ur page, or write some bad comment there. I agree everyone is entitled to their own opinion and till that opinion is fair, theres nothing wrong! I never felt that you are using ur following to get across a point. Till then, theres peace bro! Dont paint everyone with the same brush! Modi has nothing to do with this im sure. Its some people who get too carried away in their love towards someone, not right, I agree. Shud not happen, I agree. But blaming Modi fr this, isnt right bhai! Neither is it right to blame all Modi fans that way! Im one and I VOUCH BY YOUR WORK! Very creative! Cheers! (sic)" he said.