After some foreign celebrities like Pop singer Rihanna and Greta Thunberg tweeted their support to the Farmers' protest in India against the farm laws, the government appropriately responded terming these sensational' comments far from the facts and asked these celebrities to check the facts first and understand the issue before making any comments.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson commented that these celebrities, such as Rihanna and activist Greta Thunberg, in support of farmers' protest were “neither accurate nor responsible”.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the protests against the farm reforms are being raised by “a very small section of farmers in parts of India” and talks with them are underway to resolve the issue.
“We would like to emphasise that these protests must be seen in the context of India's democratic ethos and polity, and the efforts of the government and concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse,” the statement read. Also, the Union government has issued a notice to Twitter to comply with its order of removal of content related to ‘farmer genocide'. The Centre alleged that the material was designed to spread misinformation to inflame passions and hatred, and warned that refusal to do so may invite penal action.
Former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has led the call for unity in India among cricketers of the nation, in what can be seen as a veiled response to the international media attention that the farmer's protests have received thanks to mentions from the likes of Rihanna and Greta Thunberg. India opener Shikhar Dhawan has said that Indians should decide what is best for the nation and not anyone else. Ravi Shastri offered up his hopes that the issues being faced by the farmers should be resolved by dialogue and that the matter should remain an internal one. Farmers' protest is purely India's internal matter and outsiders have no role to comment on it.
By the way, who are the vested interests who will lose out if the farmers become free and empowered? Where were these celebrities when the United States and Canada vehemently opposed India in all WTO forums when it comes to India's agriculture subsidy and MSP regime but now influential people from these countries are pretending to care for Indian farmers?
Let's discuss who will stand to lose if the farmers of India get the same freedoms and rights and protections as the farmers in Western countries? Indeed, let's talk about the logic of protesting against a decision of the government to give freedom to farmers and instead ask for reversion to a situation where the government and its bureaucracy made decisions for farmers rather than the farmers themselves.
Obliviously, these issues are beyond comprehension of a Pop singer or a western activist who do not even mark the location of Punjab or Haryana on the geographical or political map of India and even do not know the name of President of India.
Let's ask Rihanna to discuss the issue in all seriousness and find out how much she understand the farming in India or her knowledge is limited to just trending a #hashtag, nothing beyond. Thus better to stay away Rihana, it none of your business!
