Five days after Bengaluru BJP Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya and his team's communal outpouring at the BBMP, a hashtag has been trending on Twitter, reminding them that the city is for all.” Called NammooraEllaruNammavaru (everybody in the city ours), the hashtag campaign has been started by an online group 'Bengaluru for Love' and picked up Twitter users.
Tejasvi Surya and his associates ‘raided’ the South COVID War Room under Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and rattled off the names of 16 Muslim staff, accusing them of being part of a ‘bed blocking scam’. They asked a BBMP official why they were hired while his uncle politician Ravi Subramanya asked if it was a “madrassa”. Tejasvi’s communal remarks were called out and condemned by many in the past few days.
"As we all continue to ask for more beds, oxygen, vaccines, medicines and food, let us also take a moment to repose our faith in our aspiration to make Bengaluru a city for all!" began a note shared by Bengaluru for Love. It asks users to shout out "we are together in this fight" and "we shall not allow a few politicians to divide us to cover up their own failures in managing this crisis."
Bengaluru, we have to shout loud and clear that Bengaluru is together in this fight against COVID-19. We shall not let politicians in power escape responsibility by dividing us. Tweet with placards conveying your message using #NammooraEllaruNammavaru this Sunday (9/5/21) at 11AM pic.twitter.com/n6tTZVqQ50
— Bengaluru For Love | ಪ್ರೀತಿಗಾಗಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು (@BlrForLove) May 8, 2021
The campaign asks people to make a placard, video, poem or doodle or anything creative to spread the message.
Promptly, people joined in with their hashtags and messages. Among them is Congress MLA Sowmya Reddy, who posted a picture of her holding a placard that says, "Stay united, Fight Covid-19 together." Bengaluru has always “embraced people of all religions, caste, language, class, etc,” she wrote.
I love my city #ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು which is called cosmopolitan, IT/BT city/ garden city .. etc has always embraced people of all religions, caste, language, class, etc
— Sowmya | ಸೌಮ್ಯ (@Sowmyareddyr) May 9, 2021
Let us stand united and fight #Covid19 together ❤️#NammooraEllaruNammavaru #ನಮ್ಮೂರ_ಎಲ್ಲರೂ_ನಮ್ಮೋರು pic.twitter.com/4Vv4hbv9FM
Avani Chokshi, a CPI(ML) member, put out a drawing of two women represented by different religions hugging each other with the message to stand against the communal politics of Tejasvi Surya.
I stand against the communal politics of @Tejasvi_Surya
— Avani Chokshi (@avani_chokshi) May 9, 2021
Bangalore is a ಚೌ ಚೌ ಬಾತ್ of various cultures, religions and traditions, but we stand united against hatred. #NammooraEllaruNammavaru#ನಮ್ಮೂರ_ಎಲ್ಲರೂ_ನಮ್ಮೋರು pic.twitter.com/9uMThoSQqa
Rakshith, a researcher, wrote: "Our legendary Karaga passes through temples, but also through dargahs. Religious harmony in our city has a long history. Never support narratives that target communities for whom this city has always been home. Where they live and where their ancestors rest #NammooraEllaruNammavaru."
Our legendary Karaga passes through temples, but also through dargahs. Religious harmony in our city has a long history. Never support narratives that target communities for whom this city has always been home. Where they live & where their ancestors rest #NammooraEllaruNammavaru
— Rakshith ಪೊನ್ನಾಥಪುರ (@PonnathPuraaNa) May 9, 2021
All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) Karnataka put tweets and logos in solidarity with the online campaign. It said, "Workers against communal hatred!" More placards held from the union said, "Hatred is Cowardice, and Love is Bravery".
1/n Workers of AICCTU across Karnataka stand against communal hatred. See pictures ahead..#NammooraEllaruNammavaru#ನಮ್ಮೂರ_ಎಲ್ಲರೂ_ನಮ್ಮೋರು@BlrForLove pic.twitter.com/B3khefe7gt
— AICCTU Karnataka (@aicctukar) May 9, 2021
All India Congress Committee (AICC) national spokesperson also joined the campaign, putting out a map and a list of places in the city with a bit of history in his message. "Kempe Gowda, Bengaluru’s farsighted founder, created space/Petes for diverse communities. Nammooru's essence has always been cosmopolitan and inclusive. Today, we need to fight to strengthen this ethos. We will triumph. For @BlrForLove is who we truly are. #NammooraEllaruNammavaru," he tweeted.
Kempe Gowda, Bengaluru’s farsighted founder, created space/Petes for diverse communities. Nammooru's essence has always been cosmopolitan & inclusive. Today, we need to fight to strengthen this ethos. We will triumph. For @BlrForLove is who we truly are. #NammooraEllaruNammavaru pic.twitter.com/q0KFyA4OMP
— Rajeev Gowda (@rajeevgowda) May 9, 2021