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It was during yesterday’s demonstration in the capital New Delhi that images of Thunberg and several other internationally known people were lit.
In recent months, hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers have protested against the reforms introduced by the government.
Thunberg has repeatedly tweeted his support for the country’s farmers.
– We join the peasant protests in solidarity, he says in his last post.
It has also been linked to “a digital toolbox”, with suggestions on how people in India can protest against the controversial new farm laws.
And she is not the only one supporting farmers. Pop star Rihanna, who has more than 100 million followers on Twitter, has also gotten involved, with several statements of support.
– Why don’t we talk about this? Rihanna wrote.
Indian celebrities are catching up
Rihanna and Thunberg’s posts have sparked a “celebrity war” on Twitter.
– India cannot compromise with its self-determination. Outside forces are welcome to watch but not participate, writes cricket star Sachin Tendulkar, who is leading the critics, believing the question only concerns India.
Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut, known for supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calls farmers protesting “terrorists”, writes the AFP news agency.
He also labels Rihanna as “a fool”. Several other actors also join the fight with foreign celebrities.
International celebrities Greta Thunberg and Rihanna are not popular with supporters of the Indian government.
Photo: Money Sharma / AFP
The ruling Hindu nationalist party BJP sees the international reactions as proof that there are international plans for an attack on India.
The government also threatens to impose sanctions on Twitter.
The American company first closed 250 Twitter accounts and flagged a series of messages at the request of the Indian government. But the accounts, which included a news magazine and various farmers’ organizations, were reopened after a few hours.
It was not popular in New Delhi, which claims that Twitter must obey orders given by the government.
Believes reforms are needed
The new farm laws mean major changes for Indian farmers.
The reforms, which the government believes are necessary to modernize agriculture, mean that large companies can buy products directly from farmers.
Farmers, for their part, believe that this will lead to the disappearance of price guarantees and regulations that ensure stable prices. They fear that the new laws will reduce their bargaining power and make them vulnerable to large private buyers.
More than 40 percent of the Indian population works in agriculture, which is often characterized by inefficiency and poverty, according to The Guardian. The suicide rate among farmers in India is among the highest in the world.
Despite several rounds of negotiations, the government and farmers’ organizations have not been able to agree.
Last week, the tension increased when a large demonstration ended in violence and clashes.
This has led the government to summon military forces, which are deployed in strategic places in the capital. This is to prevent the angry peasants from demonstrating. There are still many hundreds of thousands of farmers in New Delhi who refuse to go home.
