New Delhi: Historian Ramchandra Guha on Thursday courted controversy with his objectionable tweet on Gujarat, following which he was mocked and slammed by BJP leaders as well as several Twitter users.

“Gujarat, though economically advanced, is culturally a backward province… . Bengal in contrast is economically backward but culturally advanced”.
Philip Spratt, writing in 1939.

— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) June 11, 2020

Quoting a British writer, Guha tweeted, “Gujarat, though economically advanced, is culturally a backward province… . Bengal in contrast is economically backward but culturally advanced.”

Taking strong objection to Ramachandra Guha’s offensive post against Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that after British, now a group of elites want to divide Indians.

Earlier it was the British who tried to divide and rule. Now it is a group of elites who want to divide Indians.

Indians won’t fall for such tricks.

Gujarat is great, Bengal is great…India is united.

Our cultural foundations are strong, our economic aspirations are high. https://t.co/9mCuqCt7d1

— Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) June 11, 2020

“Indians won’t fall for such tricks. Gujarat is great, Bengal is great…India is united. Our cultural foundations are strong, our economic aspirations are high,” CM Rupani wrote on Twitter. Gujarat is great, Bengal is great…India is united, the CM said.

Paresh Rawal, BJP leaders mock Guha

Guha’s post referring to Gujarat as”culturally backward” was condemned by several BJP leaders including Paresh Rawal.

Former BJP MP and celebrated actor Paresh Rawal slammed Guha for attempting to create a rift between Gujarat and West Bengal after allegedly “distorting” history. BJP National General Secretary BL Santosh alleged that Guha’s definition of intellectualism is “breaking India”.

https://t.co/wDva5ABpZI After distorting History books Gutless Guha opens up a new avenue of Gujarati/Bengali !looks like he is getting a free ride on somebody’s Tail …! This Chuha Guha is not tired of being punchline of everyone’s jokes !@Ram_Guha

— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) June 11, 2020

Sports writer turned historian ( self proclaimed ) @Ram_Guha terms Gujaratis as non intellectuals & Bengalis as intellectuals . Everyone knows that his definition of intellectualism is breaking India . Now Gujaratis are happy & Bengalis are angry about him .

— B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) June 11, 2020

Many Twitter users including firebrand Hindutva leader Praveen Togadia also took strong exception to Ramchandra Guha’s description of Gujarat, even if it was not his own views.