Teesta Setalvad tweet outrage: Online petition demands revocation of Setalvad's Padma Shri

An online petition against Teesta Setalvad has begun that asks for the revocation of the Padma Shri awarded to the activist.

The petition follows social media outrage after Setalvad posted and later deleted the controversial image comparing Hindu Gods/mythology to the ISIS

On Friday, Teesta Setalvad tweeted an a picture that had a photoshopped image of Hindu Goddess Kali with the face of an Islamist fundamentalist. This was juxtaposed with the photo of an ISIS member about to behead American photojournalist James Foley.

Microblogging site Twitter reacted against the tweet. The reaction ranged from satirical critique to angry outburst against Setalvad

This is how Twitter users reacted to her.

I'm for free speech. A bad photoshop deserves bad photoshop. Here is Teesta Setalvad after seeing some Hindus pic.twitter.com/mKhGfAs6q0

— Rahul Roushan (@rahulroushan) August 22, 2014

After reading Teesta Setalvad's tweet, even Al Baghdadi went "WTF are you smoking bro?"

— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) August 22, 2014

Hehe people saying ignore Teesta else she will get publicity.. Don't call out her hate because she will get publicity? Not gonna happen...

— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) August 22, 2014

OK, so the entire rightwing troll brigade will be totally busy with @teestasetalvad for the rest of the weekend https://t.co/8ATo6M1a2c

— Prasanto K Roy (@prasanto) August 22, 2014

Dumb and offensive to compare a Hindu deity beheading someone in a myth with ISIS beheading a human being in real life. Disgusting.

— rupa subramanya (@rupasubramanya) August 22, 2014

Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi thought that Teesta's tweet was uncalled for.

Invoking Hindu gods to make a point about ISIS is uncalled for and excessive. Uncalled for provocation from Teesta.

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) August 22, 2014

BJP's Shilpi Tewari too posted a series of furious tweets against Setalvad

Get urself a doctor .. u r a prime example of the mental state of ur entire group "@TeestaSetalvad: Chilling Reality http://t.co/yK3Kw9wiPD"

— shilpi tewari (@shilpitewari) August 22, 2014

While many people on social media demanded that an FIR be filed against Setalvad, some raised caution acting on the same

Dear Hindus who are rightly outraged at Teesta's insulting depiction.Outrage but don't call for her arrest.This kind of extremism is harmful

— rupa subramanya (@rupasubramanya) August 22, 2014

Setalvad later posted an apology, but that did not prove to be helpful

Image was still be worked upon put by mistake no intention to upset anyobe apologies

— Teesta Setalvad (@TeestaSetalvad) August 22, 2014

A Twitter user claimed to have filed and FIR against Setalvad for causing hurt to religious sentiments

FIR filed at Bhowaipore Police station Kolkata against for hurting Religious and sentiments against .@TeestaSetalvad pic.twitter.com/FtABVLOWWP

— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) August 22, 2014

With the online petition's demand to strip Setalvad of the prestigious accolade gathering steam, the ball is now on the Narendra Modi government's court whether they give the matter prominence.