Part-time filmmaker and full-time Twitter personality, Vivek Agnihotri, has time and again courted controversy because of his outspoken ways. And today was no different, as he asked the #UrbanNaxals to openly identify themselves.
I want some bright young people to make a list of all those who are defending #UrbanNaxals Let’s see where it leads. If you want to volunteer with commitment, pl DM me. @squintneon would you like to take the lead?
— Vivek Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) August 28, 2018
For the uninitiated, the term ‘Urban Naxal’ began trending on Twitter after the arrest of civil-rights activist and lawyer, Sudha Bhardwaj. She was arrested for alleged ‘Maoist links’, and was one among five other individuals – who happen to similar activists, lawyers and writers.
#MeTooUrbanNaxal, what about you? pic.twitter.com/0y8lrz3IUo
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) August 29, 2018
Not taking the matter lying down, Pratik Sinha (founder of AltNews) replied to Agnihotri, ridiculing him for diluting the meaning of a ‘Naxal’, just it’s been done with ‘anti-national’ in the last few years. He went on to start a new trend called #MeTooUrbanNaxal.
Hey @vivekagnihotri, I volunteer to be on your list. Let’s tag @vivekagnihotri with the hashtag #MeTooUrbanNaxal and help him build his list. We should all help this man in his noble endeavour. https://t.co/zY1Azarv8l
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) August 29, 2018
And it’s something that seems to have caught on with many other members in the Twittersphere, who are now tweeting using the hashtag.
If standing up for rights of Indian citizens, defending free speech and media, and criticising the establishment and it’s crony capitalists gets me the moniker, then #MeTooUrbanNaxal
— Saikat Datta (@saikatd) August 29, 2018
I would be proud to be jailed with those arrested yesterday. They are all outstanding citizens of the country and if dissent is a crime #MeTooUrbanNaxal https://t.co/UGWHG9kMXN
— Arpita Chatterjee (@arpitachatter) August 29, 2018
How’s that list going? Have enough? If not, put my name on it #MeTooUrbanNaxal
— Sandhya Menon (@TheRestlessQuil) August 29, 2018
Thanks @free_thinker for the idea. #MeTooUrbanNaxal
In solidarity with rights activists who fight so that others may have dignity.
We shall overcome. Inshaallahhttps://t.co/9nIV0T8vn9
— Salman Anees Soz (@SalmanSoz) August 29, 2018
Hi @vivekagnihotri,
Dissent is important for our democracy to function and to hold our Government accountable. I intend to do exactly that.
Put me on your list.#metoourbannaxal
— Yasodhargolleru (@yasodhargolleru) August 29, 2018
I think. I debate. I read. I question. I dissent. I criticise. I emphatise. I protest. I probe. I exist. #MeTooUrbanNaxal
— amrita madhukalya (@visually_kei) August 29, 2018
#MeTooUrbanNaxal I am Kavita Srivastava, Single (not a familyist), Am Feminist, fat and fifty six, pretty bright, young at heart. You know i. Learnt all the wrong (naxal)things like thinking, reading, writing, researching, speaking, questioning, mobilising for justice.
— Kavita Srivastava (@kavisriv) August 29, 2018
Hi @vivekagnihotri,
Dissent is important for our democracy to function and to hold our Government accountable. I intend to do exactly that.
Put me on your list.#metoourbannaxal
— Meghnad (@Memeghnad) August 29, 2018
Put me on the list please #MeTooUrbanNaxal ….
If bright young people are making lists to target their fellow citizens, they can’t be very bright. .. https://t.co/Q8qVmpaVC3— Harini Calamur (@calamur) August 29, 2018
It would be interesting to see, what Vivek Agnihotri has to say to about ALL these tweets. After he takes the foot out of his mouth, of course.
