‘Rihanna’s tweet on farmers irresponsible’
INDIA has accused “foreign individuals” and celebrities of “sensationalism” after a tweet by pop superstar Rihanna, extending support to protesting farmers, drew global attention.
Hours after the singer’s tweet, teenage climate activist Greta unberg and the United States VicePresident Kamala Harris’ niece Meena Harris also tweeted support for the farmers.
eir widely shared tweets went viral, garnering thousands of responses.
Farmers have been protesting at Delhi’s borders against new farm laws. In a statement on Wednesday, India’s external affairs ministry said parliament had passed “reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector” after a full debate and discussion.
“ e temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible,” it added.
Rihanna’s tweet on Tuesday linked to a news story about the internet blockade at the protest sites.
India suspended mobile internet services in three areas around the capital, Delhi, where tens of thousands of farmers are camping to protest against the new laws.
e government said the shutdown was to “maintain public safety”.
e protest made international headlines last week when a tractor rally by farmers ended in violent clashes that left one protester dead and dozens of police officers injured. Some demonstrators stormed Delhi’s historic Red Fort and occupied it until police pushed them back.
Farmers’ groups and union leaders condemned the violence, but said they would not call off the protest. e pop superstar’s tweet to her 101 million followers sent her name to the top of social media trends in India. Her post drew a global outpouring of support.
ere were many who also criticised the singer for wading into the protests against the laws that have been defended by the government and its supporters.
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, a supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), posted a message quoting the tweet.
“No one is talking about it because they are not farmers, they are terrorists who are trying to divide India,” she wrote.
Hours after Rihanna’s tweet, unberg also tweeted in support of the farmers. US Vice-President Harris’ niece Meena also posted in solidarity with the striking farmers.
“We ALL should be outraged by India’s internet shutdowns and paramilitary violence against farmer protesters,” she wrote.
British MP Claudia Webbe also expressed her support for the farmers, writing, “ ank you Rihanna. In an era where political leadership is lacking, we are grateful for others stepping forward.”
e farmers’ protest, now in its third month, presents the biggest challenge Modi has faced. His BJP government has offered to suspend the laws, but the farmers want them repealed.