Paresh Rawal, Twit

“Instead of tying stone pelter on the army jeep” tweeted actor and BJP MP Paresh Rawal, engaging typing fingers before brain, “tie Arundhati Roy!” File his remark under the bulging cabinet reserved for ‘Dumb Things People Say on Twitter’, if you’re feeling charitable. And someone should tell Rawal that there is no evidence a “stone pelter”, rather than an ordinary citizen, was tied to the front of the jeep. Roy has developed a tough hide and will need it to be tougher still to withstand the abuse that will surely follow the publication of her long-awaited second novel, The Ministry

of Utmost Happiness, on June 6. She has the courage of her convictions. More than can be said for the ‘patriots’ and keyboard warriors. n