Our Bureau
Mumbai
All hell broke loose in Bollywood this week after Rihanna tweeted about the farmers protest in India. The ‘Umbrella’ crooner’s tweet evoked reactions from fans and celebrity followers and caused her to trend on the microblogging platform. With over 241,000 tweets, Rihanna was trending at Number 1 spot in India on the site. Soon, Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut, who had supported farm laws, called Rihanna a “fool” and said that the protestors were not farmers but “terrorists who are trying to divide India”.
“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 USA… Sit down you fool, we are not selling our nation like you dummies,” the ‘Panga’ actor tweeted.
Others like Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Diljit Dosanjh have earlier come out in support of the farmers on Twitter. Diljit also had a Twitter spat with the ‘Queen’ actor following their contrasting views on the protesting farmers. “Yes! Thank you so much Rihanna. This is a humanity issue! #IStandWithFarmers and this narrative is TIRED,” Canadian YouTuber, comedian, talk show host, and actress Lily Singh tweeted.
Taking a veiled dig at actor Kangana Ranaut, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday said it is unfortunate that some people are calling ‘peaceful farmers’ protesting against the Centre’s three farm laws ‘terrorists’ when ‘international personalities’ are supporting the agitation.
In a media note, SKM acknowledged the support of “international personalities” towards the ongoing farmers’ movement, and said, “On the one hand, it is a matter of pride that eminent personalities of the world are showing sensitivity towards the cause of farmers, while on the other hand, it is unfortunate that the Government of India is not understanding the pain of the farmers and some people are even calling peaceful farmers as terrorists.” International pop star Rihanna on Tuesday extended her support to farmers protesting on the borders of India’s capital against the three agriculture laws introduced by the Central government last year and asked why people were not talking about it.
Also, Twitter took action against Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut on Thursday by deleting some of her tweets, stating that the now-deleted posts were in violation of the platform’s guidelines.
This comes a day after Kangana reacted to international pop sensation Rihanna’s support for the ongoing farmers’ protest. And, after several Indian celebrities (film stars, cricketers) supported Rihanna’s tweet, Kangana responded to them with profanities in her tweet. This led to the twitter guidelines violation and deletion of some of her tweets. A Twitter spokesperson confirmed, “We have taken action on Tweets that were in violation of the Twitter Rules in line with our range of enforcement options.”
Earlier, Manjit Singh GK, former President of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) on Wednesday sent a legal notice to Twitter asking to take down actor Kangana Ranaut’s ‘defamatory tweet’ against Sikh Community.
Manjit Singh GK through his lawyer Naginder Benipal has sent a legal notice to Manish Maheshwari, Managing Director of Twitter India, complaining about “maligning and tarnishing” the image of farmers and the entire Sikh community. “That the present notice is given for attacking the farmers and the Sikh community who are protesting against the three farm laws passed by Central government with the assent of President of India.
The legal notice further added that Kangana Ranaut is using her ‘fan following’ to try and defame the farmers and the Sikh community associated with Farmers’ protest and has “declared them anti-national by claiming them to be terrorists who are trying to weaken the strength and protection the country so that outsider can nation and that the farmers are protesting to divide the country.”
The notice also said that Ranaut has questioned the integrity of farmers and the Sikh community, and is trying to create doubts about the intentions of farmers in the minds of general public.
“In light of the aforesaid, it is requested that the said tweets be taken down, blocked off from your web portal with immediate effect. The said defamatory/disparaging/ denigrating have already been reported on your web portal as per the procedure prescribed albeit they are available for public viewership till date,” it said.
