New Delhi: India on Wednesday reacted sharply to comments by foreign celebrities and others, including pop singer Rihanna on farmers’ protests, saying a very small section of farmers in parts of the country have some reservations about the farm reforms and a proper understanding of the issue is needed before rushing to comment on the agitation.
“The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a curt statement.
The MEA’s reaction came after several international celebrities and activists including American pop singer Rihanna and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg tweeted about the farmers’ protest in India.
The ministry also said the Parliament of India passed the reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector and noted that some of the vested interest groups have tried to mobilise international support against India.
“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 the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse,” the statement said.
Asserting that “before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken”, the ministry said the “temptation of sensationalist” social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is “neither accurate nor responsible”.
Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg and US Vice President Kamala Harris’ niece are among several people from the international community who have come out in support of the farmers protest against the Centre’s new agriculture laws.
Their remarks came soon after international pop star Rihanna shared a news article highlighting the Centre’s crackdown on the farmers by cutting off internet services in many regions.
“We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India,” Thunberg had tweeted on Tuesday, tagging a CNN news report headlined: “India cuts internet around New Delhi as protesting farmers clash with police.”
We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India.
https://t.co/tqvR0oHgo0— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) February 2, 2021
Meena Harris, an American lawyer who is the niece of Kamala Harris, had said: “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,” Meena Harris tweeted.
Earlier, Rihanna had tweeted:
why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest https://t.co/obmIlXhK9S
— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 2, 2021
Nine-year-old climate activist Licypriya Kangujam had asked Thunberg to support the protest, saying farmers were already battling the climate crisis.
Hi @GretaThunberg!
Plz extend support to the voice of millions of Indian farmers. This is the world’s biggest historic protest for their rights. They’re already the victims of #ClimateCrisis.We also stand to scrap new farm laws #CAP in @Europarl_EN. #WithdrawTheCAP#Rihanna
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) February 2, 2021
Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan climate activist, has also come out in support of the farmers. “Let us talk about what is happening in India right now #FarmersProtest,” Nakate tweeted, tagging Kangujam.
In another tweet, Kangujam had said: “Dear friends, Our millions of poor farmers sleeping in the streets in this cold weather don’t expect anything from you. Just your one tweet of love and supports /solidarity to their cause means a lots to them. Our Indian celebrities get lost.
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at Delhi’s borders for over two months against the laws.