Many opposition leaders, prominent functionaries have condemned Maharashtra Police’s sudden arrests of 5 activists, Twitter users have also now raised their voice against these arrests such unlawful activities by the government can not silence the voices of dissent.
Soon after the arrests, few media-men have termed these arrested activists as Maoists while some are calling them ‘Urban Naxal’s’, IBT reported.
On Tuesday, the filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri took to Twitter responding to these arrests and Tweeted: “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?”
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 Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) August 28, 2018
And his tweet received severe backlash from other users who have come in support of the rights activists and said if voicing one’s opinion against the system for its wrong doings is being an ‘Urban Naxal’ then there are willing to be called one.
Put me in your list. #MeTooUrbanNaxal https://t.co/LunW8AaZUJ
— Debraya (@debrayaM) August 29, 2018
Oye @vivekagnihotri Let me help you build up your list. I'm happy to to say #MeTooUrbanNaxal Do let me know what else may I help you with.
— TheAgeOfBananas 🇬🇧 (@iScrew) August 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/EnpaerMohan/status/1034717656035684354
So, you are making a hit list ? Seriously ? On social media ? And you want bright young people ? I am not a fan of naxals, but you Sir are wrong. So, go ahead and put me on the top of your hit list 👍. Even I want to see where it leads ? You are making a mockery of free speech.
— Dr. Naveen Sodem, PhD (@navsodem) August 28, 2018
The hashtag #MeTooUrbanNaxal is now trending on Twitter with supporters of the activists taking a dig filmmaker and the system.
While Alt News founder Pratik Sinha responding to the arrests said people hould come togther to raise their voices agsint being called Urban Naxals for supporting the activists.
“Tons of people are already using #MeTooUrbanNaxal on Twitter and Facebook. Let us destroy this new fascist wet dream of branding those who stand up for the underprivileged and marginalised sections of the society as Urban Naxals,” Sinha tweeted.
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
While other users called it as an open threat to democracy which calls for undeclared emergency.
If standing with the oppressed and with those who fight with the oppressed is urban Naxalism I am proud to add my name to your list #MeTooUrbanNaxal https://t.co/w6YgpnXGUx
— Harsh Mander (@harsh_mander) August 29, 2018
If dissent is being Urban Naxal, if Criticising Govt is being Urban Naxal then #MeTooUrbanNaxal @free_thinker
— apurva اپورو (@aput25) August 29, 2018
One of the twitteratis said: “Our nation is currently under an undeclared emergency. While the mob lynchers and criminals walk free people who stand for the good are being jailed. And they came up with a new name “Urban Naxals”. Then #MeTooUrbanNaxal.”