Pop icon Rihanna created a stir on Tuesday when she shared a CNN article on suspension of internet services over the ongoing farmers' stir on the outskirts of New Delhi.
In the tweet, Rihanna asked, "why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest." The tweet by Rihanna has got over 200,000 retweets and more than 440,000 likes in just 13 hours.
Not surprisingly, it has triggered comments from other key social media figures. Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg shared the same CNN article and tweeted, "We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India."
Late on Tuesday (US time), Meena Harris, a lawyer and author, tweeted about the farmers' protests. Meena Harris is the daughter of Maya Harris, who is the sister of US Vice President Kamala Harris. Meena Harris played a significant role in the campaign of Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination and later her ticket with Joe Biden in the US election.
Meena Harris referred to similarities between the riot at the US Capitol in early January and the suppression of the farmers' protests in India.
Meena Harris tweeted, "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."
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Meena Harris added, "Militant nationalism is just as potent a force in US politics as it is in India or any place else. It can only be stopped if people wake up to the reality that FASCIST DICTATORS aren’t going anywhere. Not unless: 1) we organize and 2) THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CAPITOL ATTACK."
The surge in 'celebrity' voices in support of the farmers' protest evoked a response from Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP's social media operations.
Without naming anyone, Malviya tweeted an article from First Post, adding, "This sudden concert of global celebrity voices against India’s government begs the question: who is wielding the baton?
Is there a concerted global effort to destabilise India from outside? Who gains from destabilising India?"
