Yesterday, renowned US-based singer and actress Rihanna caused a frenzy on Twitter after she posted a tweet expressing her concern over the suspension of the internet service and other human rights violations occurring in the ongoing farmers’ protest. Many appreciated her for speaking up about the matter, including Federal Minister, Fawad Chaudhry.
The minister retweeted her tweet with the caption “You have earned the respect of every farmer of the world and particularly of Punjabis all around the world.”
He went on to state, “You have shown that your heart is in the right place…loads of respect.”
Read more: How did the farmers’ protests turn into an oppressed peoples’ Movement in India
You have earned respect of every Farmer of the world and particularly of #Punjabis all around the world you have showed your heart is on the right place…. loads if respect #FarmersProtests #Rehana https://t.co/dXiafhYeau
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 3, 2021
Rihanna shared a CNN article about the Indian government cutting off internet services in the surrounding areas of New Delhi and the violent clashes between the police and the farmers. She asked, “Why are we not talking about this?!”, using the hashtag “#FarmersProtest.”
why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest https://t.co/obmIlXhK9S
— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 2, 2021
The singer has a huge fan following in India and her tweet garnered thousands of retweets and likes as well as reactions from all over the world, especially India. She started trending on Twitter, and many appreciated her concern for the farmers, while others such as the renowned Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut did not seem to agree with the singer.
Read more: Rihanna’s reaction to India’s farmers’ protest sparks international outrage
Calling Rihanna a “fool” for raising her voice against the human rights violations, the actress replied to her tweet saying “No one is talking about it because they are not farmers they are terrorists who are trying to divide India so that China can take over our vulnerable broken nation and make it a Chinese colony much like the USA… Sit down you fool, we are not selling our nation like you dummies.”
https://twitter.com/KanganaTeam/status/1356640083546406913
Moreover, the farmers protesting against the new farm laws are mostly from the Sikh community. In solidarity with them, the Sikh community in the United States, Britain, and Australia have also led protests.
A New York-based group namely, the Sikh Coalition also lauded Rihanna for highlighting an issue very personal to the Sikh community.
Read more: Superstar Rihanna under fire for farmers’ protest tweet
It took to Twitter to express its gratitude and wrote, “Thank you @Rihanna for standing up for farmers in India who have been protesting for months. For over a week, the Indian government has been suspending internet services around #FarmersProtest sites in a clear affront to the freedom of speech.”
Thank you @Rihanna for standing up for farmers in India who have been protesting for months. For over a week, the Indian government has been suspending internet services around #FarmersProtest sites in a clear affront to the freedom of speech. https://t.co/oV3g8uEmt2
— Sikh Coalition (@sikh_coalition) February 2, 2021
Read more: Indian Twitter accounts suspended on Modi government’s order amid farmers’ protest