After Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Congress of being a ‘party of Muslims’, its president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday responded to the allegations with a tweet saying “I love all living beings. I am the Congress.” Gandhi, who is being targetted by BJP leaders after an Urdu newspaper quoted him saying ‘Congress is a party of Muslims’, tweeted this in his defence:
I stand with the last person in the line. The exploited, marginalised and the persecuted. Their religion, caste or beliefs matter little to me.
I seek out those in pain and embrace them. I erase hatred and fear.
I love all living beings.
I am the Congress.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 17, 2018
Gandhi’s tweet might not have ended the political slugfest between the two political parties but it surely has initiated a user-generated Twitter trend to end the politics of hate and communalism.
Many users tweeted began tweeting this:
I’m An Indian Muslim.
I’m Human too.
You can talk to me.#TalkToAMuslim https://t.co/fvkYcWPday pic.twitter.com/lup88CjD2N— Zainab Sikander (@zainabsikander) July 17, 2018
Even artists and celebrities joined the movement:
I am a Muslim. I also happen to be a human like you. You can talk to me. 🙂#TalkToAMuslim https://t.co/pVEpbGks4t
— mohd. zeeshan ayyub (@Mdzeeshanayyub) July 17, 2018
I’m An Indian Muslim.
I’m Human too.
You can talk to me.#TalkToAMuslim https://t.co/dBI7nH257r… pic.twitter.com/sSoYfWovwk— Rana Safvi رعنا राना (@iamrana) July 17, 2018
I’m an Indian Muslim.
I’m human too!
You can talk to me. #TalkToAMuslim pic.twitter.com/4NJLcwoYQA— Wajahat Jilani (@WajahatJilani) July 17, 2018
Speaking up loud and clear. Indians of all creeds stand for love and peace. #TalkToAMuslim https://t.co/VmqG4tHqvY
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) July 17, 2018
#TalkToAMuslim seriously didn’t think a day would come where talking to a muslim leader or a commoner would question ur patriotism or ur belief in ur own faith!!by land I am a Hindu ,by faith I am a Muslim and by heart n soul INDIAN is my identity !!! #killThehate #spreadlove pic.twitter.com/kiXaHNmplA
— Gauahar Khan (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) July 17, 2018
I am an Indian Muslim,I love my country, I love all the religions of the land of the nation, I love togetherness. Talk to me, talk to a Muslim .#TalkToAMuslim pic.twitter.com/pPHeEMoC8h
— Maskoor Ahmad Usmani (@MaskoorUsmani) July 17, 2018
AMU PRESIDENT Follow Him @MaskoorUsmani #TalkToAMuslim pic.twitter.com/9h4g8Z5B0v
— Zaidu Sabbag (زيشان رنغريض) (@Zaidu003) July 17, 2018
#TalkToAMuslim we are all humans first #StopDividing #StartUniting @reliablerani pic.twitter.com/nQcoJVyDJA
— Maskoor Ahmad Usmani (@MaskoorUsmani) July 17, 2018
If you think that Muslims aren’t feeling persecuted
If you think Muslims aren’t fed up of being the national conversation every night at 9pm bulletins
If you think Muslims don’t feel otherized, demonized & marginalized
Then you need to talk
I am an Indian Muslim#TalkToAMuslim— Nazia Erum (@nazia_e) July 17, 2018
Even non-Muslims joined the cause:
I’m a Hindu. I talk to Muslims. Guess they are humans too. #TalkToAMuslim pic.twitter.com/tnzcEF4nkd
— ektaa malik (@ektaa_malik) July 17, 2018
I am a Hindu
MY best friend is a muslim
I pray Namaz during Ramzan
And I love it #TalkToAMuslim— Abhishek Vyas (@VyasAbhii) July 17, 2018
However, some weren’t very happy with the idea though:
I am Hindu n I #TalkToAMuslim go to there home n share food too…but I am not understanding why this campaign is needed…#TalkToEveryone
— Datta Kadam (@KadamDJ149) July 17, 2018
What sort of Hashtag is this – #TalkToAMuslim ? Who started trending? as if we don’t talk to Muslims in general as if they are some vicious animals meant to b kept separately? Stop spreading hatred n miseries. We normal ppl, don’t live in twitter world n we co exist happily
— Pinki Bhattacharya (@Pinki10B) July 17, 2018
I am a Hindu.
I once was a tenant to a Muslim landlord.
We were in really good talking terms.
He respected Hindu religion and used to contribute for local Hindu community festivals.
He was not a bigot.
I don’t know what’s the need for #TalkToAMuslim hashtag.— Vivek
