Check out why #TalkToAMuslim is trending on Twitter:
After Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Congress of being a party of Muslim, its president Rahul Gandhi responded to the statement with a tweet saying: “I love all living beings. I am the Congress”. Gandhi who is being targeted by BJP leaders after an Urdu newspaper quoted him saying ‘Congress is a party of Muslims’, he tweeted in defense:
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
The tweet might not have ended the political argument between the two parties but it surely started a campaign to end the politics of communalism and hate.
To start a campaign against the rising Islamophobia in the country some Twitterati kicked off the #TalkToAMuslim trend.
The hashtag soon picked up the pace and went viral. The agenda behind is simple: just like opening up and talking to a friend when need be, “engage in a conversation” with a Muslim person to “know them better” and avoid making stereotypical assumptions.
Many users tweeted:
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
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
Some celebrities also joined in:
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 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
#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
#TalkToAMuslim we are all humans first #StopDividing #StartUniting @reliablerani pic.twitter.com/nQcoJVyDJA
— Maskoor Ahmad Usmani (@MaskoorUsmani) July 17, 2018
Non-Muslim people also contributed:
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, there were some people who did not like the use of the hashtag:
By Land I Am A Hindu, By Faith I Am A Muslim And By Heart And Soul INDIAN Is My Identity.
BUT…
I’ll Breakup With You If You Don’t Convert To My Religion. 😂😬😂#TalkToAMuslim pic.twitter.com/eax9CZshyv
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) July 17, 2018
This trend of #TalkToAMuslim is so laughable, the very first step is to segregate and then talk.
You defeat the whole purpose by the 1st step.
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) July 17, 2018
This #TalkToAMuslim hashtag only really proves one thing: Stupidity is abundant in real life. On social media, it’s infinite.
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) July 17, 2018
This #TalkToAMuslim is the most juvenile and stupid hashtag that has come up. I won’t even call it an idea. Like ‘Intolerance’, ‘Award Wapsi’, ‘fear-mongering’ this too shall pass. Yet do realise the forces behind it won’t ever help the nation, leave alone Muslims.
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) July 17, 2018
What is your take on this?
