Senior government ministers, Indian celebrities and even the foreign ministry are urging people to come together and denounce outsiders who try to break the country.
NEW DELHI — It took just one tweet from Rihanna to anger the Indian government and supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party. The pop star linked a news article in a tweet drawing attention to the massive farmer protests that have gripped India for more than two months.
Now, senior government ministers, Indian celebrities and even the foreign ministry are urging people to come together and denounce outsiders who try to break the country.
“It is unfortunate to see vested interest groups trying to enforce their agenda on these protests, and derail them,” India’s foreign ministry said in a rare statement on Wednesday, without naming Rihanna and others who followed her suit.
Farmer’s protests
Tens of thousands of farmers have been hunkering down at the Indian capital’s fringes to protest new agricultural laws they say will leave them poorer and at the mercy of corporations.
The protests are posing a major challenge to Modi who has billed the laws as necessary to modernise Indian farming.
Their largely peaceful protests turned violent on Jan 26, India’s Republic Day, when a section of the tens of thousands of farmers riding tractors veered from the protest route earlier decided with police and stormed the 17th century Red Fort in a dramatic escalation.
Hundreds of police officers were injured and a protester died. Scores of farmers were also injured but officials have not given their numbers.
Farmer leaders condemned the violence but said they would not call off the protest.
Since then, authorities have heavily increased security at protest sites outside New Delhi’s border, adding iron spikes and steel barricades to stop demonstrating farmers from entering the capital. The government had also restricted access to mobile internet at protest sites up until Tuesday evening.
What does Rihanna have to do with it?
The latest controversy started on Tuesday when Rihanna tweeted to her more than 101 million Twitter followers: “Why aren’t we talking about this?!”
She linked to a CNN news report about India blocking internet services at the protest sites, a favored tactic of the Modi government to thwart protests.
why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest https://t.co/obmIlXhK9S
— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 2, 2021
Soon, international condemnation from human rights groups and outrage from Indian supporters of Modi’s party followed.
Then India’s foreign ministry accused foreign individuals and celebrities of sensationalism. The ministry’s statement did not, however, name Rihanna.
Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg and the niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris, Meena Harris, were among others who then tweeted their support, and a social media storm soon followed.
We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India.
https://t.co/tqvR0oHgo0— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) February 2, 2021
It’s no coincidence that the world’s oldest democracy was attacked not even a month ago, and as we speak, the most populous democracy is under assault. This is related. We ALL should be outraged by India’s internet shutdowns and paramilitary violence against farmer protesters. https://t.co/yIvCWYQDD1 pic.twitter.com/DxWWhkemxW
— Meena Harris (@meenaharris) February 2, 2021
According to The Wire, Rihanna’s tweet “shouldn’t have mattered, but it did,” adding that “right-wing trolls and supporters” got to work as the issue garnered support.
“Besides slut-shaming her, they glorified and justified the violence that was once meted out to her: ‘Chris Brown’ began to trend on Twitter India, with the right-wing sharing images from Rihanna’s 2009 domestic violence case with captions that she ‘deserved’ being assaulted. Further, derogatory comments justifying slavery were made, as well as the inevitable Muslim connection,” the publication said in an op-ed.
Indian Twitter kicks up a storm
Bollywood entertainers and sports stars, many of whom have long been silent on the farmer protests and are known to toe the government’s line, tweeted in one voice.
They used hashtags #IndiaAgainstPropaganda and #IndiaTogether — coined by the Indian foreign ministry and echoing the government’s stand on the agriculture laws — asking people outside India not to meddle with their country’s affairs.
Sporting legend Sachin Tendulkar, cricket’s highest scoring international, led the Twitter riposte by Indian celebrities.
“India’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants. Indians know India and should decide for India.” he said.
India’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants.
Indians know India and should decide for India. Let’s remain united as a nation.#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 3, 2021
Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli followed suit calling for unity in this “hour of disagreements”.
Let us all stay united in this hour of disagreements. Farmers are an integral part of our country and I’m sure an amicable solution will be found between all parties to bring about peace and move forward together. #IndiaTogether
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) February 3, 2021
Head coach Ravi Shastri also offered his two cents of the situation.
“Agriculture is a very important part of the machinery of the Indian economic system. Farmers are the backbone of any country’s ecosystem. This is an internal matter which I’m sure will be resolved through dialogue,” he said.
Agriculture is a very important part of the machinery of the Indian economic system. Farmers are the backbone of any country’s ecosystem. This is an internal matter which I’m sure will be resolved through dialogue. Jai Hind! #IndiaStandsTogether #IndiaAgainstPropoganda 🇮🇳
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 3, 2021
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, a Modi supporter, called the protesting farmers “terrorists” and Rihanna a “fool”.
She hasn’t released a single song in 5 years, sells make up but looks like she is feeling Corona blues,Forbes estimated incomes are just PR gimmicks big sham,a million or two won’t hurt her right now, also notice in her tweet she did not commit to any opinion just a vague tweet. https://t.co/57VGWJZ8Be
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) February 3, 2021
Actors and directors Anupam Kher, Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Karan Johar joined the fray against the “foreigners”.
Farmers constitute an extremely important part of our country. And the efforts being undertaken to resolve their issues are evident. Let’s support an amicable resolution, rather than paying attention to anyone creating differences. 🙏🏻#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda https://t.co/LgAn6tIwWp
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) February 3, 2021
हमारे देश के अंदरूनी मामलों में दख़ल देने वाले कुछ विदेशियों के लिए यह शेर अर्ज़ है…
रिंदे ख़राब हाल को ज़ाहिद ना छेड तू ,
तुझको परायी क्या पड़ी अपनी नबेड तू.. 🙂#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) February 3, 2021
We live in turbulent times and the need of the hour is prudence and patience at every turn. Let us together, make every effort we can to find solutions that work for everyone—our farmers are the backbone of India. Let us not let anyone divide us. #IndiaTogether
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) February 3, 2021
We must always take a comprehensive view of things, as there is nothing more dangerous than half truth. #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda @hiteshjain33 https://t.co/7rNZ683ZAU
— Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) February 3, 2021
Rihanna’s and Thunberg’s tweets also prompted responses from almost every senior leader of Modi’s party, including Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Home Minister Amit Shah, who said that no propaganda can deter India’s unity.
However, India’s opposition leaders rallied against the government’s move.
The main opposition Congress party leader Shashi Tharoor said the damage done to India’s global image by the government’s undemocratic behaviour could not be restored by making celebrities tweet.
Tharoor in a tweet said Indian government getting Indian celebrities to react to Western ones is “embarrassing.”
For GoI to get Indian celebrities to react to Western ones is embarrassing. The damage done to India’s global image by GoI’s obduracy &undemocratic behaviour can’t be remedied by a cricketer’s tweets. Withdraw the farm laws &discuss solutions w/farmers &you’ll get #IndiaTogether.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 3, 2021
Former finance minister P. Chidambaram took a swipe at India’s foreign ministry and called its statement a “puerile reaction”.
It is good that Rihanna and Greta Thunberg can wake up the MEA.
Come on MEA, when will you realize that people concerned with issues of human rights and livelihoods do not recognize national boundaries?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 3, 2021
“When will you realise that people concerned with issues of human rights and livelihoods do not recognise national boundaries,” Chidambaram tweeted.
Why did the PM of India comment on the assault on the Capitol building in Washington by the Trump storm troopers?
It is sad that someone erudite and worldly wise like Mr S Jaishankar should allow such puerile reactions by the MEA?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 3, 2021
— AP, AFP
