While visiting the Butterfly Garden in Gujarat's Narmada district, on the occasion of his birthday, Indian PM Modi released a large number of butterflies from a bag.
The video clip of the moment soon went viral on social media, evoking a range of reactions on Twitter with some finding quite funny while others were concerned about whether the butterflies had suffered any harm. The viral video clip has garnered over 300,000 views within 24 hours of its posting.
#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Butterfly Garden in Kevadiya, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/iziHRcMJVq
— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2019
A segment of Twitter users was perplexed at the idea of capturing butterflies to eventually free them, as some of them inquired as to who had captured hundreds of butterflies for the PR stunt.
Why on earth did they catch butterflies, put them into a basket and then release them again?
— Bala Krishna (@BalaKrishnarama) September 17, 2019
Sounds stupid.
What kind of juvenile fun is it to collect butterflies & keep them trapped in a closed bag.. For the PM to celebrate his birthday?
— lakshmiprashant (@lakshmiprashan7) September 17, 2019
But this exemplifies what politicians do..trap people & then act like you are setting them free
We need a special show showing that Butterflies came to him and went voluntarily inside the Bag to be Blessed and released by him..😀
— The Hitman অসমীয়া (@TheHitm07855496) September 17, 2019
Another suggested that the butterflies had metamorphosized in the bag.
surely these butterflies were metamorphosed in the laundry bag & @narendramodi freed them .. there can be no alternative theory like a whole lot of butterflies caught & trapped in laundry bag for the scumbag to open..right? Is he going to free Kashmiri people just like that?
— makeurownlegend اسيم (@aseemtamboli) September 17, 2019
Others were upset upon seeing the captive butterflies.
This is a stupidest thing to do. Butterflies are not caged birds that they need to be released. Putting them in a bag itself is an act of cruelty. What did it mean? Does it behove a PM to show such strange symbolism?
— vijay (@atta_deep) September 17, 2019
When, how, & by whom were these beautiful butterflies captivated to be released today to become part of birthday celebrations.
— 🇮🇳 BN Sharma, IG BSF (Retd) (@BholaNath_BSF) September 17, 2019
'No butterflies were harmed in the process'@narendramodi@Manekagandhibjp
🤔😷
Meanwhile, a section of Twitter users compared Modi’s expressions to those of a child that was setting birds free.
That child like happiness and smile is wonderful
— Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (@abhi2007) September 17, 2019
This looks super cute ❤️
— Archana Denzing (@ADenzing) September 17, 2019
Nevertheless, Prime Minister Modi who has over 50 million followers on Twitter alone, received plenty of praise from those who admired his gesture.
Happiest Birthday to the World's Most respected, biggest and Very popular leader ♥️
— Sujay Raj (@Sujay__Raj) September 17, 2019
• Youth icon
• Inspiration for all Indians
Our Honourable Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi Sir🙏#HappyBirthdayNarendraModi 💖 pic.twitter.com/ddSeBtDOi1
Liberals will cry.... Why were the butterflies trapped in the first place?!!!!
— 🇮🇳𝓐𝓼𝓱𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓲 𝓡𝓪𝓳𝓮💕 (@Ashwini_Raje) September 17, 2019
