Rihanna post: Maha govt to probe ‘same tweets’ by celebs
‘Move will stop misuse of celebrities’
The Maharashtra government on Monday said that it will investigate tweets by Indian celebrities in response to criticism of the government’s handling of the farmers’ protest by foreign personalities.
“It has been revealed that there were the same posts by celebrities and at the same time,” Maharashtra home minister Anil Desmukh said. “Hence it will be investigated why it has happened.”
MANY CELEBRITIES and sportspersons such as Bharat Ratna awardee Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar, along with Akshay Kumar and Saina Nehwal, have joined together to support the government on social media
In a new twist to the war of tweets over the farmer’s stir in Delhi, Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh has ordered a probe into tweets by Indian celebrities, including Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar. Action will be taken in this matter according to the rules, he said. “The Maharashtra Congress delegation through a video conference asked me to probe the misuse of Indian celebrities on the issue of farmers, who are protesting for last 70 days on the Delhi border for the demand of abolition of farm bills. I have promised them to take action as per the rules,” Mr Deshmukh tweeted on Monday.
Many celebrities and sportspersons such as Bharat Ratna awardee Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar, along with Akshay Kumar and Saina Nehwal, have joined together to support the government via social media, using hashtags #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda in response to tweets by foreign celebrities including Rihanna, Mia Khalifa and climate activist Greta Thunberg in support of the farmers’ protest. Mr Deshmukh said, “We all respect the personalities, who are honoured with the Bharat Ratna award. But the Congress has demanded a probe on whether they were pressurised by the BJP leaders (to support the government).”
The home minister, who is currently in quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19, joined a video conference with the Congress delegation headed by Mumbai Congress leader Sachin Sawant.
“We demanded investigation of BJP connection into the tweets of celebrities and security to be provided to our national heroes if needed and find out whether these celebrities were arm-twisted by the BJP,” said Mr Sawant.
The Congress leader said that the home minister has assured that the state intelligence department will probe the matter. He questioned how Bollywood actors and other celebrities are posting identical tweets. “Why tweets of Akshay Kumar and Saina Nehwal are matching with each other? Why Suniel Shetty tags his tweet to a BJP office bearer? This has completely exposed the role of the BJP, which is capable of pressuring celebrities,” Mr Sawant said.
It is the duty of the MVA government to provide an atmosphere where every individual can exercise their right of freedom of speech without any pressure, he added.