Farmers protest: MEA slams ‘vested interests,’ social media turns battle zone

NEW DELHI: The farmers' protests that have been raging on Delhi's borders escalated into a full-blown global war of words on social media on Wednesday with tweets flying from both sides and the ministry of external affairs taking the unusual step of reacting to tweets by private foreign individuals with a detailed official statement and senior government ministers and Indian celebrities joining in the pushback.
The foreign ministry said "vested interest groups" had been trying to "mobilise international support against India" and that "the temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible".
US vice-president Kamala Harris's niece Meena Harris, who's a lawyer, climate activist Greta Thunberg, US House foreign affairs committee member Jim Costa, YouTuber Lilly Singh, poet Rupi Kaur, rapper Russ, former adult film star Mia Khalifa, UK MP Claudia Webbe and a host of others had earlier come out in support of the ongoing farmers' agitation after Rihanna's one-line post on Tuesday. "Why aren't we talking about this?!," the international pop star with a Twitter following of over 100 million had written with the hashtag #FarmersProtest and a CNN report on the internet shutdown around Delhi.

The foreign ministry statement was followed by actors Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, producer-directors Karan Johar and Ekta Kapoor, singer Lata Mangeshkar and cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli posting tweets with the hashtags IndiaTogether and IndiaAgainstPropaganda that the MEA spokesperson had used in the statement.
Several members of the Modi government also joined in the counter-attack. “No propaganda can deter India’s unity. No propaganda can stop India to attain new heights (sic). Propaganda can’t decide India’s fate, only progress can. India stands united and together to achieve progress,” tweeted Union home minister Amit Shah.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman and a number of others, such as Hardeep Puri, tweeted parts of the MEA statement. Junior home minister G Kishan Reddy was more blunt. “We will not be cowed down by an international gang of anarchy lovers.”
Defending the new laws and underlining the government’s efforts to find a solution, the MEA, in its statement, said: “The Parliament of India, after a full debate and discussion, passed reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector... A very small section of farmers in parts of India have some reservations about these reforms. Respecting the sentiments of the protesters, the government of India has initiated a series of talks with their representatives. The government has even offered to keep the laws on hold, an offer iterated by no less than the PM of India.

“Yet, it is unfortunate to see vested interest groups trying to enforce their agenda on these protests, and derail them. This was egregiously witnessed on January 26, India’s Republic Day. A cherished national commemoration, the anniversary of the inauguration of the Constitution of India, was besmirched, and violence and vandalism took place in the Indian capital. Some of these vested interest groups have also tried to mobilise international support against India. Instigated by such fringe elements, Mahatma Gandhi statues have been desecrated in parts of the world. This is extremely disturbing for India and for civilised society everywhere.”
The statement concluded by saying: “Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken.”