Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentarian Udit Raj was trolled on Twitter on Monday for posting that Jamaica’s Usain Bolt won nine Olympic medals because the star athlete’s trainer advised him to eat beef.
So much so that Raj had to issue a clarification saying he cited Jamaica to suggest “poor infrastructure and poverty” did not thwart Bolt. He stressed India, where cow slaughter is banned in many states, has to find its way to Olympic glory in accordance with the prevailing “circumstances”.
“It’s 200% wrong to interpret my comment as an endorsement of beef eating,” he told HT.
The 29-year-old Bolt retired after winning three medals at his pet events -- 100m race, 200m race and 100*4 relay -- at the recently concluded Rio Olympics, bagging nine medals altogether over three Games.
{{/usCountry}}The 29-year-old Bolt retired after winning three medals at his pet events -- 100m race, 200m race and 100*4 relay -- at the recently concluded Rio Olympics, bagging nine medals altogether over three Games.
{{/usCountry}}The Delhi leader’s reference to Bolt came at a time there is intense scrutiny of India’s performance in Rio, where the country’s 118 athletes managed to secure just two medals -- one silver and the other bronze.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the setting up of a task force to chart the road map for the next three Games even as experts have suggested better facilities and protein-rich diet for athletes.
Raj’s comments did not go down well with many Twitter users at a time attacks in different parts of the country by so-called cow protectors have set off alarms bells in the government, with PM Modi publicly rebuking such self-styled vigilantes.
On Twitter, some also pointed out that there was no direct link between the consumption of beef and winning a medal at the Olympics, suggesting training facilities and talent were also key to success.
And then there were some who supported him.
(With inputs from HTC in Delhi)