Indian supermodel and fitness freak Milind Soman's admission about his training as a 10-year-old boy in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological organisation connected with Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in his memoir - Made in India, proved to be an unintended invitation to trolls on social media.
Soman recalled his days as a 10-year-old in RSS Shakhas, a volunteer training module, as very different from the present popular assessment of the organisation as one that uses “subversive and community propaganda”.
While a few Twitter users remarked that he longer appears hot to them, others said it was a way of seeking favour from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, largely seen as close to RSS. A few memes refer to Soman as ‘Sanghi’ – a loyalist of the RSS.
You're no longer hot. pic.twitter.com/pDarPgrc3J
— scindia crawford (@BucketheadCase) March 10, 2020
When a Liberandu girl found that #MilindSoman is a Sanghi !! pic.twitter.com/ubzfLPAFi9
— 💨चरस_गाँजा💨💭🌿 (@Charas_Gaanja) March 11, 2020
A Twitter user opined, “I was never interested in #milindsoman but when i came to know He was a Sanghi I am inspired by him.”
Looks like #milindsoman needs some perks from the govt like rajnikanth had, lol won't even be surprised if his future projects become tax free out of magnanimity of the govt. 🤞 https://t.co/r1jJRMyNtm
— Saif ullah khan (@SaifkMBT) March 11, 2020
You vs the guy she told you not to worry about#milindsoman #RSS pic.twitter.com/P9GHOjtch0
— HindustanUnited (@HindustanUnited) March 11, 2020
Other users saw nothing wrong in Milind taking a soft stance for the RSS and sided with him.
RSS is an organization which does lot of good work and produces disciplined and patriotic people.
— Suudharshan Vaidhya (@vaidhyacook) March 11, 2020
Why are the liberals getting so angry over Milind Soman being in RSS?
True colors of pseudo liberals being revealed??
In fact, I have attended few of their meetings and it was great.
I have suddenly taken a liking for this man #milindsoman!! As a person who cares less for looks, I have fallen for his golden 'sanghi' heart!! 💕
— Apeksha (@akuleh31) March 11, 2020
After seeing widespread trolling, Soman took to twitter to respond to it, saying he was being trolled for an “experience he had at the age of 10”.
Trending at 54 for an experience I had at the age of 10. 🤪🤪🤪🤪 wish it was about swimming, which was at the same time!
— Milind Usha Soman (@milindrunning) March 10, 2020
In the memoir, the 54-year-old actor had recalled his participation in ‘Shakhas’ in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and stated that his father believed in the benefits of training, self-discipline and physical fitness that one received as part of the RSS.
