Internet slams attention on Ambani wedding as Brazilian vlogger alleges being gangraped in India

a travelvlog couple trying to visit every country in the world decided to go to India as their latest destination.

11 hours ago they announced they were at the hospital because he had been beaten up and she had been gang raped by 7 men. pic.twitter.com/WNSd21TUi5

The authorities have acted swiftly, with four suspects already arrested in connection with the case. However, the news has prompted widespread outrage on social media, with internet users expressing their dismay and concern.

“Gang rapes are a scourge in India. Cowardly groups of violent sex depraved men. As travelers, they would have been open and friendly, and that was the weakness that got taken advantage of. Shocking and shameful,” one user on the microblogging platform X, formerly Twitter, condemned the incident.

Gang rapes are a scourge in India. Cowardly groups of violent sex depraved men. As travelers they would have been open and friendly and that was the weakness that got taken advantage of. Shocking and shameful. Athithi devobhava? https://t.co/N3OzkufMj7

Another X post challenged Indian media’s priorities with the attention being given to billionaire businessman and Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant’s grand pre-wedding festivities with fiancé Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant. “Checked the quotes and realised that the entire world is speaking about it except the Indian media who are more bothered about covering a pre-wedding.”

Checked the quotes and realising the entire world is speaking about it except the Indian media who are more bothered about covering a pre-wedding. https://t.co/YTq3EFfoYc

With a star-studded roster of guests in attendance at the wedding bash in Jamnagar including international bigwigs like Bill Gates and Rihanna, many critics are launching the same broadside against Indian media outlets. “The juxtaposition of the media covering a wedding with the theme of atithi devo bhava while this happening in another part of the country and not being covered by news outlets,” a netizen pointed out.

the juxtaposition of the media covering a wedding w the theme of atithi devo bhava while this happening in another part of the country and not being covered by news outlets https://t.co/ll2lG1zxZ8

The Sanskrit refrain ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ gestures towards a long tradition of welcoming guests with great honour and dignity. Mukesh, while greeting the attendees at his son’s extravagant wedding celebration, invoked the Indian practice, as per News18. “Our esteemed friends and family, namaste and good evening to each and every one of you. In the Indian tradition, we respectfully describe guests as Atithis. ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. It means: Guests are like Gods," he said.

After making headlines for the past few weeks, many internet users allege that the Ambani wedding is not detracting focus from the more pressing realities of Indian life. “This barely got any coverage but some billionaire pre-wedding ceremony did. Dystopian times we are living in,” claimed one X user.

The outrage becomes more critical as netizens slam Ambani’s usage of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ as a call to promote tourism in the country, in the footsteps of the national tourism ministry. A detractor remarked, “People are busy gloating about how Ambani is promoting tourism in India but will completely ignore this, by the way.”

Ppl are busy gloating about how Ambani is promoting tourism in India but will completely ignore this btw. Rather we love clamping down on criticism instead of acknowledging the issue. https://t.co/5mUqKO2Ysf

The post furthered on, “Rather we love clamping down on criticism instead of acknowledging the issue.” Another comment reflected on the pervasive vulnerability of women in India, stating, “So not only is solo travelling there as a woman essentially a death wish, but you can still get gang-raped when you’re with a man? Good heavens, my desi sisters are always in my prayers.”

so not only is solo traveling there as a woman essentially a death wish but you can still get gang raped when you’re with a man anyways?? good heavens, my desi sisters are always in my prayers omg https://t.co/ILEUleezbe

The heinous crime has ignited a conversation about the safety of women travelers in India, raising questions about the prevalent issue of sexual violence and the urgent need for stricter measures to ensure the well-being and security of all individuals, both locals and tourists alike.

Others simultaneously identified long history of sexual assault in India and disparaged those using the Dumka incident to freely indulge in racist stereotypes. “I do not agree with the racism in the response to this post at all but India does have a rampant issue with sexism and violence against women,” an X post contended.

I do not agree with the racism in the response to this post at all, but India *does* have a rampant issue with sexism and violence against women and it becomes so incredibly horrific and disheartening every single time things like this keep happening. Teach MEN how to behave. https://t.co/A09LEHJUaY

The user firmly added, “It becomes so incredibly horrific and disheartening every single time things like this keep happening. Teach men how to behave.” Another countered posts victim-blaming the couple for camping in a dangerous locality. “Indian men actually defending this sh*t by trying to blame the couple for camping in an unsafe place just tells you everything you need to know about how women are treated in this country.”

indian men actually defending this shit by trying to blame to couple for camping in an unsafe place just tells you everything you need to know about how women are treated in this country. https://t.co/DFpSRHjth2

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