Ascertain facts before commenting: MEA reacts to Rihanna, Greta Thunberg's remarks

The MEA's reaction came after several international celebrities and activists including Rihanna and Greta Thunberg tweeted about the farmers' protest

Accusing "vested interest groups" of trying to mobilise international support on protest against farm laws, Centre on Wednesday issued a terse statement asking celebrities to ascertain facts before commenting, an assertion that came in the backdrop of tweets by celebrities like American pop singer Rihanna and Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg on the ongoing protest.

"Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken. The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

Also read — After Rihanna, Greta Thunberg stands in solidarity with protesting farmers

MEA chief spokesperson Anurag Srivastava tweeted the statement with hashtags--- #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda--- in which the government insisted that the farmer protests must be seen in the context of India’s democratic ethos and polity, and the efforts of the government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse.

Greta Thunberg, the youngest person of the year named by Time magazine had tweeted “We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India" while Rihanna had tweeted “Why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest”.

Making a strong defence of the three contentious farm laws---Farmers'' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020---, the government said that Parliament had passed after a full debate and discussion the "reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector".

Insisting that these reforms give expanded market access and provided greater flexibility to farmers and also pave the way for economically and ecologically sustainable farming, the MEA statement said "a very small section of farmers in parts of India have some reservations about these reforms.

It said that respecting the sentiments of the protestors, the government has held eleven rounds of talks with farmer representatives in which Union Ministers have been part of the negotiations and the Centre even offered to keep the laws on hold, an offer iterated by no less than the Prime Minister of India.

"Yet, it is unfortunate to see vested interest groups trying to enforce their agenda on these protests, and derail them," the MEA said and referred to the incident of January 26, when a group of protesting farmers had entered the Red Fort and unfurled a religious flag there kicking an outrage on social media.

This was "egregiously" witnessed on January 26, India’s Republic Day when 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, the statement said.

Also Read | Farm laws: Bollywood backs govt after Rihanna speaks up

"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 government said referring to the incident of the vandalisation of Gandhi's statue during a protest organised by Sikh-American youths in support of protesting Indian farmers in the US.

Indian Embassy in Washington DC had then strongly condemned the "mischievous act by hooligans masquerading as protesters" and had taken up the matter with US law enforcement agencies and the US Department of State, seeking an early investigation and action against the culprits under the applicable law.

Responding to questions on the MEA's statement on foreign celebrities commenting on far laws, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "I have no opinion on it. It is our internal matter. It is an issue concerning the farmers" but felt the reputation of India has taken a massive hit (outside) not only in relation to how the issue of the protest of farmers has been dealt with but also how journalists have been treated.

Meanwhile the MEA statement said that Indian police forces have handled the farmer protests with "utmost restraint" and flagged "it may be noted that hundreds of men and women serving in the police have been physically attacked, and in some cases stabbed and seriously wounded."

The MEA statement came on a day when protesting farmers organised a Mahapanchayat in Jind in Haryana as their protest entered 70th day.

On Wednesday, the government also sent a notice to the microblogging site Twitter asking it to comply with its order to remove accounts related to a controversial hashtag that alleged farmer genocide. The order came after Twitter unblocked several accounts and posts concerning this controversial hashtag after blocking them for some time.

Read | Govt notice to Twitter after it unblocks accounts over farm protests

In December last year also, India has reacted strongly to Canada PM Justin Trudeau's comment on farmers protest saying they were "ill-informed"

"Such comments are unwarranted, especially when pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country. It is also best that diplomatic conversations are not misrepresented for political purposes," the MEA had said then.

Earlier Trudeau had, addressing a Sikh gathering in Canada, which is very influential in that country, spoken about the protest by Indian farmers and said,"the situation is concerning" and assured "Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protesters."