Top Indian novelist under fire over tweet

NEW DELHI: Best-selling Indian novelist Chetan Bhagat faced nationwide anger on social media sites Wednesday after tweeting that the country’s plunging currency had been “raped.”
The comments by Bhagat, known for his romantic, funny novels which are popular with India’s middle-class youth, came amid renewed outrage over violence against women after the gang-rape in Mumbai of a photographer last week.
Twitter users slammed the former investment banker for the tweet — in which Bhagat said: “The rupee is asking, is there no punishment for my rapists?” — accusing him of trivializing a grave problem.
“Making a fun of a serious offense rather an inhuman act & comparing with downfall of Rupee is NOT AT ALL funny,” wrote one user. India’s online news portal Firstpost told the novelist bluntly in a prominently displayed article: “Chetan Bhagat, rape jokes are just not funny,” adding they are “tasteless and just plain crass.”
The Mumbai attack rekindled memories of the fatal gang-rape of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi last December that sparked nationwide protests and brought to the surface anger about violence against women in India.
The victim in the Mumbai attack was released from hospital Wednesday. Bhagat swiftly deleted his tweet as the uproar grew, calling it “harmless” and saying he had referred to rape as a “metaphor” for the rupee’s troubles.
“As all of you hunt for that (deleted) tweet realize that your economy is in a deep crisis. And do consider raising your voice about it,” Bhagat tweeted later.