How to deal with hyper-nationalist trolls? Tennis legend Martina Navratilova shows us the way

It isn't easy to deal with an army of right-wing trolls on social media. If you have an opinion contrary to theirs, get prepared to face a barrage of abuse.

Or as tennis legend Martina Navratilova found out on Monday, 22 February, that even sharing an article on sedition in India could land you in trouble, with hyper-nationalist keyboard warriors ready to defend the 'honour' of the country.

The Czech Republic-born former tennis star shared an article from New York Times on her Twitter account. The article, written by Indian journalist Nilanjana Roy, criticised the BJP-led Indian government's handling of the recent events at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

In the tweet which accompanied a link to the article titled, 'What passes for sedition in India', Navratilova wrote, "Ultra-nationalism easily turns into violence at worst, bullying at best."

What Passes for Sedition in India, -ultra nationalism easily turns into violence at worst, bullying at best. https://t.co/U5V6nvENFn

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016

This didn't seem to go down well with a few Indian ultra-nationalist Twitter trolls, who responded with vitriol. However, the tennis legend stood her ground and calmly replied to some of the trolls.

Here are some of her responses:

@Aravind8 once again- it is not anti indian to disagree with a particular party. You just proved the point of that article.

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016

@dvji not giving advice- just posting an article and saying extremism can become violent very easily.

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016

@dvji and these days RW extremism seems on the rise. I could be wrong. And I love India btw- if I didn't care I wouldn't speak.

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016

@Dyslexicon @sanjayausta but how is disagreeing anti nationalist? Nobody is talking sedition, are they?

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016

@Dyslexicon @sanjayausta and I hate what we have done in Afghnistan , Iraq etc and spoken out against that way before the war. Just FYI

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016

@pliersnwires I am not supporting violent anything - left or right wing. Hate communists, hate white supremacy jerks etc.

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016

@Dyslexicon i agree with debate. Have no clue about how religion and caste differences are used one way or another. Abhor violence.

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016

@abhitripathi15 that's exactly why I was doing- speaking out against violence. Whether it's from the left or right.

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016

@abhitripathi15 dissent is one thing, protest another, advocating sedition, violence etc another thing yet.

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016

@Un_Spin you are just making stuff up now- sorry- blocked.

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016

@meonsky123 not lecturing anyone- but you are just nasty- bye.

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 22, 2016