Amit Shah's Vaman Jayanti greeting sparks debate

Keralites say he tried to belittle the great Mahabali by greeting them on a festival they don't celebrate

BJP president Amit Shah posted a greeting on social media on Vamana Jayanti, which was celebrated by the people of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. It turned into a debate as the people of Kerala felt insulted because they do not celebrate Vaman Jayanti but Onam, which happens to be on Wednesday.

Amit Shah on Tuesday had posted on Facebook and Twitter, "Samastha Deshvasiyonko Vamanka Jayanthi ka Hardik Shubhkamanaein (Wishing Everyone a Happy Vamana Jayanti)." 

Critics took the tweet by BJP chief as an attempt to belittle Mahabali, the legendary Asura king of good governance whose visit to Kerala is celebrated as Onam. Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan too joined the critics. 

He wrote on his own page, "With Vamana Jayanti wishes, Amit Shah has tarnished social values that Mahabali upheld and has insulted Malayalis." 

Keralites took the opportunity and lashed out at Amit Shah on his Facebook page. Comments ranged from "please don't insult Onam" to "will it now be anti-national to dress up as Mahabali?"