{"id":7020,"date":"2017-12-12T21:31:45","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T16:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/?p=7020"},"modified":"2018-06-25T11:43:35","modified_gmt":"2018-06-25T06:13:35","slug":"maharashtra-cms-wife-amruta-fadnavis-trolled-promoting-charity-event-linked-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/maharashtra-cms-wife-amruta-fadnavis-trolled-promoting-charity-event-linked-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Maharashtra CM’s wife Amruta Fadnavis trolled for promoting a charity event linked to Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cLaunched Be Santa-campaign, as Ambassador for @927BIGFM – to collect gifts from people -for poor children, to bring smiles to their faces during this Christmas. Drop ur gifts at nearest @927BIGFM & Feel the joy – as best way to multiply your happiness is by sharing it with others\u201d<\/em> Little did Amruta Fadnavis know when she tweeted her support for the BeSanta initiative, that she would become a target of trolling by right-wing Hindutva activists. The BeSanta social initiative launched by the radio channel Big FM BIG FM aims at spreading joy among the underprivileged kids during Christmas by inviting donations in the form of gifts. To launch this campaign, the channel got on board Amruta Fadnavis, the social-activist and wife of Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.<\/p>\n

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launched-Be Santa-campaign, as Ambassador for @927BIGFM<\/a> – to collect gifts from people -for poor children ,to bring smiles to their faces during this Christmas.Drop ur gifts at nearest @927BIGFM<\/a> & Feel the joy -as best way to multiply your happiness is by sharing it with others\ud83c\udf85 pic.twitter.com\/r5UTAi3nDY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 AMRUTA FADNAVIS (@fadnavis_amruta) December 12, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Right-wing supporters did not take kindly to the wife of the Chief Minister promoting a charity linked to Christmas. A simple charity drive was perceived as a threat to Hindus by drawing reference to conversions by the Church. A tweet by Shefali Vaidya, a columnist for right-wing online publication, Swarajya about \u201charvesting souls in Maharashtra\u201d had over 1.6K retweets.<\/p>\n

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Husband @Dev_Fadnavis<\/a> leading Christmas prayers, wife @fadnavis_amruta<\/a> launching Be Santa campaign. Hallelujah! Praise be to the Lord! Harvesting souls in Maharashtra just became a lot easier!<\/p>\n

\u2014 Shefali Vaidya (@ShefVaidya) December 12, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another popular right-wing handle<\/a> wanted to know if she and her husband had converted to Christianity \u00a0and proceeded to name the couple David and Amanda Farnandes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Amruta Fadnavis tried to explain her position saying love, sharing & empathy have no religion and that she is a proud Hindu who celebrates every festival and this represents the true spirit of India.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019m a proud Hindu & like many, I celebrate every festival in my country & that is an individual choice…. We represent the true spirit of our country … and that doesn\u2019t dilute our love towards our country , religion & humanity ….<\/p>\n

— AMRUTA FADNAVIS (@fadnavis_amruta) December 12, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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In my capacity as a Proud Hindu Citizen, I will always try to unite & bring in harmony wherever I can. But just wish to remind you that empathetic journalists & journalism should not ignite the fire of religious differences .Ican\u2019t stop a serene action bcoz of some wrong deeds!<\/p>\n

— AMRUTA FADNAVIS (@fadnavis_amruta) December 12, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n