‘Me Too Urban Naxal’ trends on Twitter after arrest of activists across India

Following the arrests, filmmaker and author Vivek Agnihotri asked for a list of 'Urban Naxals', prompting Twitterati to hit back with a #MeTooUrbanNaxal hashtag.

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A social media storm has been brewing following the raids by the Pune police in many states on Tuesday, where they arrested poets, writers and activists, accusing them of being "Maoist sympathisers".

The police raided homes of Varaara Rao and Kranthi Tekula in Hyderabad, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Pereira in Mumbai, Sudha Bharadwaj and Stan Swami in Chhattisgarh, Gautam Navlakha in Delhi and Anand Teltumbde in Goa.

Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves and Sudha Bharadwaj have been detained by the police.

Many people have said on social media that this is merely a way to curb and discourage dissent. Meanwhile, film director and author Vivek Agnihotri asked some “bright young minds” to put together a list of those defending “Urban Naxals”.

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

Several social media users slammed Vivek's tweet and argued that terms like "Urban Naxal" and others were simply used by a section of the media and people to malign those who have an anti-establishment stance. Others accused him of openly inciting hate.

Check out some of the tweets in response to Vivek below.

'Urban Naxal', 'Half Maoist', 'Love jehad', 'Free Sex', 'Tukde Tukde Gang' - just some of the nonsense phrases used to smear activists, intellectuals and basically anyone defending rights of people under attack from the Modi Govt! — Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) August 28, 2018

I want all bright young people to understand what this tweet exactly means. Lists are being made... Lists... Do not ignore the danger this post implies. Also don't DM. Openly tell us. Come on be a little brave https://t.co/X8co81lina — Ashwin Mushran (@ashwinmushran) August 29, 2018

I wonder if @Twitter @TwitterIndia is taking notice of this. How is creating a hit list of people who disagree with the current establishment allowed on this platform? Letting this happen can seriously put their lives at risk. — Prerna Bakshi (@bprerna) August 29, 2018

Soon, the hashtag “Me Too Urban Naxal” started trending, with people ridiculing Vivek’s call to make a list. They argued that if debating and dissenting meant that they are ‘Urban Naxals’, so be it.

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

In a democracy dissent is my right #MeTooUrbanNaxal — Rana Safvi राना (@iamrana) August 29, 2018

Hi @vivekagnihotri



How's that list going? Have enough? If not, put my name on it #MeTooUrbanNaxal — Sandhya Menon (@TheRestlessQuil) August 29, 2018

Guys guys stop. @vivekagnihotri has enough brains to discriminate who should be on that list and who shouldn't it seems. Have you sought his approval to claim #MeTooUrbanNaxal tag? pic.twitter.com/j8ZiF4DikC — Sandhya Menon (@TheRestlessQuil) August 29, 2018

If asking the questions, or standing up for humanity and freedom of speech makes me an urban Naxal... then I’m proud to be one #MeTooUrbanNaxal — Archana Bhardwaj (@archieroolz) August 29, 2018

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

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 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

Thanks @free_thinker for the idea. #MeTooUrbanNaxal



In solidarity with rights activists who fight so that others may have dignity.



We shall overcome. Inshaallah https://t.co/9nIV0T8vn9 — Salman Anees Soz (@SalmanSoz) August 29, 2018

If @Sudhabharadwaj is a naxal, I am a naxal too. Arrest me. #MetooUrbanNaxal — nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) 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

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 — Megharag (@megharagmnm) August 29, 2018

There are hundreds of other tweets with the same hashtag, expressing similar sentiments on social media.

Further, people also accused Vivek of tweeting the initial idea of the list of "Urban Naxals" to promote his book Urban Naxals: The Making of Buddha in a Traffic Jam. He reportedly defines "Urban Naxals" as “urban intellectuals, influencers or activists of importance” who are actually India’s “invisible enemies”. Some of them, Vivek alleges in his book, “have either been caught or are under the police radar for working for the movement and spreading insurgency against the Indian State”.

#UrbanNaxals are India’s biggest internal security threat. They must be defeated. You can read more about these invisible enemies of India. pic.twitter.com/js5ZeH5uuB — Vivek Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) August 28, 2018

The man is not even being subtle. #AnythingForMoney pic.twitter.com/wY4PBchsNx — Khemta H. Jose (@khemtajose) August 29, 2018

When will people understand that Vivek Agnihotri uses bigoted communal pot stirring to market his craptastic films and books. Stop giving him a platform for more attention. — Mihir Fadnavis (@mihirfadnavis) August 29, 2018

can't believe that people are being arrested to promote a book. #UrbanNaxals August 29, 2018

Meanwhile, people have also pointed out that the counter hashtag to Vivek Agnihotri, may actually end up legitimising the term "Urban Naxals". It was also pointed out that people proudly tweeting with the tag had the privilege to do so, and if that a list was actually made, those without the privilege, would be at highest risk.