Interior Minister Amit Shah was the last to tweet about the reaction to Rihanna’s tweet about farmers (file)
New Delhi:
Interior Minister Amit Shah tonight became the highest-ranking member of the government to warn of the “temptation of hashtags and tabloid social media comments,” a response to the wave of support for protesting farmers. for the new farm laws, a wave generated by a six-word tweet from pop star Rihanna.
Shah joined the growing list of BJP politicians and leaders and Bollywood celebrities who tweet against “propaganda” that threatens national unity.
“No propaganda can deter the unity of India! No propaganda can stop India from reaching new heights! Propaganda cannot decide the fate of India, only ‘Progress’ can. India is united and united to make progress, “Shah tweeted.
On Tuesday night, Rihanna tweeted to her 100 million followers: “Why aren’t we talking about this #FarmersProtest?” and shared an article about the farmers’ protest on the US media CNN.
No propaganda can deter the unity of India!
No propaganda can stop India from reaching new heights!
Propaganda cannot decide the fate of India, only “Progress” can.
India stands united and united to achieve progress.#India against propaganda#IndiaTogetherhttps://t.co/ZJXYzGieCt
– Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 3, 2021
Her tweet was quickly followed by a flood of such messages, including one from teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg and former Lebanese-American adult film star Mia Khalifa. Both Rihanna and Ms Khalifa were today labeled “anti-national” by Sambit Patra of the BJP.
Rihanna’s tweet also sparked a furious pushback against the singer, including an abusive response from actor Kangana Ranaut, with responses from actors Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Ajay Devgn, filmmaker Karan Johar, and various union ministers.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar also tweeted.
The sovereignty of India cannot be compromised. External forces can be bystanders but not participants.
The Indians know India and should decide on India. Let us stand together as a nation.#IndiaTogether#India against propaganda– Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 3, 2021
The rejection followed a formal response from the government, a response that did not mention Rihanna but highlighted “vested interest groups trying to enforce her agenda … tried to mobilize international support against India …”
“A very small fraction of farmers in parts of India have some reservations about these reforms,” the government said, referring to a protest that has seen tens of thousands of farmers across India express concern over laws that they say, they will endanger their livelihoods.
The center also said that the police force, which had been criticized for excessive force against protesting farmers, had handled the protests with “the utmost restraint.”
The center insists that the laws will be beneficial and will not repeal them. Instead, an 18-month suspension was offered, after the Supreme Court halted implementation for two years, but rejected it.
Last week, the farmers’ tractor rally through Delhi turned violent after some groups veered off course and stormed the Red Fort, killing one person and injuring hundreds of police officers.
Since then, containment measures at the center have intensified, with barbed wire fences, concrete barricades and iron bars being used to prevent farmers from advancing towards the national capital.
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