Lucknow teenager behind 'Twitter Handlegate' innocent: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday expressed sympathy with Qaiser Ali, the teenager from Lucknow, who inadvertently took the PMO Twitter handle without realising the raging political controversy that followed it.

Omar Abdullah said Thursday on his Twitter profile, "Poor chap probably never imagined this publicity. BBC News - #BBCtrending: Prime Minister of India for half an hour".

In an article on the 'Twitter Handlegate' the BBC in its 'BBCtrending' blog said 19-year-old Qaiser Ali from Lucknow wanted a new name for his Twitter account and he found @PMOindia Twitter handle vacant and took it.

Qaiser Ali has told reporters, "I was shocked, honoured, but also scared. I'm just a 19-year-old kid from India, and this is a government matter."

"When they found out, my parents scolded me and told me to apologise to all the people of India."

How funny can the World of cyberspace become has been proved by the inadvertent action of a school pass-out whose 'fun' with internet sent shock waves in the political circles of India.

Qaiser Ali has apologised for his action and yet for everybody on internet this lad from Lucknow was "the PM of India for half an hour".

Shocked by the spat generated by his act, Qaiser Ali said he has no intention to pursue a career in politics.

Twitter says it does not comment on individual accounts and it is not clear who is now controlling @PMOIndia.