#TalkToAMuslim is everything that is wrong with this country!

It all started on July 12, when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called his INC a Muslim party. Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted opposition after this statement came out in an Urdu daily – Inquilab. Rahul Gandhi defended himself on Twitter, saying he loves all beings. We don’t know if that is going to be enough to save him from public rage or disappointment, but he sure will be more careful about his statements now (or so we hope!).

Here is what he tweeted:

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

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As soon as this incident happened, it resurfaced the age old Hindu-Muslim divide in India. And thus came the #TalkToAMuslim trend. Celebrities like Gauhar Khan also tweeted about this, bringing it more limelight. Here are reactions by people and celebrities over this hash tag:

1. He is right.

If you think you need to #TalkToAMuslim, don't come near me.

If you can't see another human being without seeing their 'identity' (race, caste, gender, whatever), you are the problem.

— Omair Ahmad (@OmairTAhmad) July 17, 2018

2. Life makes us all stupid I guess.

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

3. You really should consider therapy dear politicians.

Today it’s #TalkToAMuslim. Tomorrow it would be #TalkToADalit. And then #TalkToAWoman. After which #TalkToNonYadavOBCs. If you need to be told to talk to other human beings to deal with your hate & paranoia, the problem rests only with you. That’s why I advocate #TalkToAShrink.

— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) July 17, 2018

4. It’s high time those shackles went away.

#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

5. Always, always be accepting towards others.

I #TalkToAMuslim or Muslims every day. Religion doesn’t come to mind while interacting.
Unless you want to catch people by the hair and rub their noses on your religious identity, why would you come up with such a profoundly silly and divisive hashtag?

— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) July 17, 2018

6. I second your opinion!

I seek no acceptance.
I seek no validation.
I seek equity.#TalkToAMuslim pic.twitter.com/bWNiEGwETR

— Zaeem (@ZedsDeadb) July 17, 2018

7. Talk to humans, not religions.

Shocked beyond words at this cheap hashtag #TalkToAMuslim. Not only is it downright disrespectful, it does no favor to Muslims you are supposedly speaking up for. Get out of fake social media world and you will see Muslims and Hindus talk to each other like any two normal humans.

— Sunanda Vashisht (@sunandavashisht) July 17, 2018

8. I have friends in all religions and I am proud of it.

Completely flaggerbasted by the #TalkToAMuslim hashtag. It imbues TALKING to muslims with a stigma that never was, and is patronizing as heck. I'd imagine people with friends of different religions including Islam are quite taken aback by this and unsure what it attempts to fix.

— Narasinga (@syrinje) July 17, 2018

9. It would be lovely to have a chat with Ms. Safvi!

I'm an Indian Muslim
I have fun,
I enjoy life
I can talk to you on Shakespeare, Ghalib, Meerabai, the Mughals and the First war of Indian independence
Of Muslim contribution to freedom struggle
Come talk to me#TalkToAMuslim #TalktoaMuslim pic.twitter.com/4qE6gP7nAQ

— Rana Safvi رعنا राना (@iamrana) July 17, 2018

But the most brutal backlash was received by actress Swara Bhaskar! Why? The Veere di Wedding actor tweeted something along the lines of how BJP has painted a wrong picture and –BOOM! That was all it took for people to troll her, insult her, and accuse her of wanting to join the Congress or being ‘on the other side’. This was what the Swara commented:

We were not the ones Shocked into hysterical spasms that a leader of opposition ‘talked’ to a group of Muslims. BJP was. BJP was so hysterical that it began 2 lie publicly about what that conversation was. So we were forced to point out the obvious. That it’s ok 2 #TalktoaMuslim

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) July 17, 2018

And this is what she received (totally uncalled for as far as I’m concerned) :

1. So she’s a kafir now? Wow.

One Muslim replied to your tweet” Islam mein kafir se baat karna Manaa hai.... Humko nahi karna baat”

— payal bhayana (@payalbhayana) July 17, 2018

2. Finally! Someone talking a little sense!

The irony is, it was BJP, who gave India the best President till date (Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam).

It’s BJP, who has empowered Muslim Women by doing away with Triple Talaq.
After all this, they come up with this.

— Kunal Bisani (@BisaniKunal) July 17, 2018

3. Question her finances, coz that’s exactly the need of the hour.

Ye bollywood walo kuch to kaam dedo @ReallySwara jee ko berjogar baithe baithe inke dimag me jung lag gaya hai bechari ko postcard bechkar pet chalna pad raha hai

— shubham (@sg2131007gmail3) July 17, 2018

4. I’m confused. When did Swara become the brand ambassador for Hindus or Muslims?

Pakistan mai hindu 20% se 1% pe aa gaye kaha gaye kabhi bola tune bari aayee Muslim ki batt karne wali

— Rohit Chawla (@rchawla56) July 17, 2018

5. If a tweet got you election tickets, let’s just say India would be in a worse place right now.

Aapko kaha se election ka ticket chahie aur kiss party ka

— Aman Sharna (@aman_sharna) July 18, 2018

6. Up to date with the news, this one! Or is he? Ahem ahem.

If the News was false then I challange @INCIndia and bigot @ReallySwara to file a defamation case against the News Paper , Congress Minority cell President confirm the news nest day ..stop spreading lies and hatred shame on you..you people are the real threat to this Country.

— Sachin Pathak (@SachinP_079) July 17, 2018

7. Okay, I didn’t know Bollywood people had a different galaxy to themselves, I want one too!

Would you simply for me ... Didn't get your tweet . Oh oh you r from Bollywood where people talk about nonsense and have all power on social media. And don't know a 0.1% about society. class 12 Tak social science aache sai padhi hoti to ye tweet nahi karna padta #TalkToAMuslim

— Shubham Pareek (@Shubham23864698) July 18, 2018

8. Maybe your sense of politics meter is too!

pic.twitter.com/yJ7mJHcaYx

— Pankaj Naik (@pankaj_naik) July 18, 2018

9. No context. At all.

Halala, triple talak, mutah should accepted by Muslim girls. Yahi chahti ho na

— Ritesh kumar (@Ritesh_bgp) July 18, 2018

10. Did you get paid, Swara?

Madam first clarify if ur paid for ur posts. Need not worry/ pappu is the greatest asset for BJP as he would compel more people to go to BJP than BJP can attract- ask him to support Muslim women bills to remain relevant- don’t u think ?

— coolchiru (@coolchiru2) July 18, 2018

What deeply saddens me is that this political trick of dividing votes and people on the basis of religion is played since time immemorial and people still fall for it? Why? Why can’t we just distance ourselves from the clutter and look at it objectively? We have elections in 2019 and this suddenly pops up? Coincidence? I don’t think so.

I would urge citizens to stop being so sensitive about such a trivial issue. It is not in good taste to be ‘intolerant’ towards everything. It’s high time India.