Farm laws: Vir Das, Tapsee Pannu among those sailing against the current

A few personalities dismissed the trend of supporting government on farmers' protests

As India's famous personalities pile on to support the government after international backlash against the Centre's handling of the farmers' protests, a few on Twitter sailed against the current by questioning the 'logic' behind the agitation being an "internal issue."

After pop star Rihanna's Wednesday tweet on farmers' protests snowballed into an internet storm, the nation's celebrities, from cricket legend Sachin tendulkar to Bollywood actors, tweeted backing the government stand that foreign intervention into "internal issues" was unnecessary, with a hashtag first used in a Ministry of External Affairs statement.

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However, a few personalities dismissed the trend. Bollywood actor Tapsee Pannu tweeted, "If one tweet rattles your unity, one joke rattles your faith or one show rattles your religious belief then it’s you who has to work on strengthening your value system not become ‘propaganda teacher’ for others."

Bollywood choreographer Farah Khan also voiced dissent against the government saying people from other countries are speaking up because the Centre has failed to address the issues at hand.

While several cricketers including skipper Virat Kohli and legendary bowler Anil Kumble backed the government, former Indian team pacer Irfan Pathan said when Geroge Floyd was killed by the police in the US, an incident that sparked mass protests, India had expressed grief, suggesting that the nation had reacted to an incident that happened in the US.

Another cricketer, Sandeep Sharma, had also tweeted saying there was no logic in dismissing the farm agitation as an internal issue while listing atrocities against minorities across the world, such as the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany. However, Sharma deleted the tweet later.

Actor Sonakshi Sinha, Akshay Kumar's co-star of many films, was among the celebrities to support of Rihanna's tweet.

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The actor, in her Instagram stories, shared quotes from storysellers comics, which said the voices raised by the international celebrities are "about the violation of human rights, suppression of free internet and expression, state propaganda, hate speech, and abuse of power."

One of the stories on Sinha's Instagram also dismissed the argument that it was India's internal matter, saying, "these are not alien species but fellow humans who are speaking up for the rights of other humans."

Comedian-actor Vir Das said he was amazed to see how Indians got ‘mobilized’ over a tweet by Rihanna and Thunberg.

“Honestly, I don't think Rihanna or Greta have anything more than superficial wisdom about Indian farmers. But gotta say it's hilarious to see literally thousands of shaky Indian men get mobilized over a tweet, all the while proclaiming how secure they are in their policymakers,” he said.

Filmmaker Onir too took a dig at the tweets in support of the government by noted personalities and termed the so-called support from Bollywood as a ‘puppet show’.

“It is so embarrassingly obvious that a whole bunch or celebs who do not value their voice have been sent a set message, which they are modifying a bit and postings. They Do what they have been told to. Tragic #puppetShow #worldWithFarmers #IStandWithFarmers,” he tweeted.

Actor Sayani Gupta tweeted, “Aiyooo! The cute Bhakts have awakened! (You know that moment in a zombie film climax, when the zombie was looking elsewhere, and a human was cautiously stepping away, and bam! It suddenly turns to him.) Just got that feeling!.”

Bollywood celebrities have often been called out in the media for not speaking up on politically sensitive topics unlike their counterparts in the US.

Pointing out to this fact, actor Swara Bhasker wrote on Wednesday, "Aur Bolo 'Speak Up Bollywood, 'Speak Up celebrities'."

"Made in Heaven" star Arjun Mathur used the hashtags to mock celebrities for displaying an "utter lack of spine", a thought echoed on social media with 'Spineless Celebs' trending on Twitter.

"Let us stand together in displaying our utter and complete lack of spine, in safeguarding our hundreds of crore rupees of income and in supporting this military-style mobilisation against the very masses who have practically treated us as gods and to whom we owe everything we enjoy. Let no sane or humane voice interfere, nor influence you.

"They can spectate, not participate. Please do support us, as we intend to come for you next," Mathur wrote on Instagram.

Actor-TV host Sushant Singh said he was heartbroken with the support pouring in from the film industry for the government.

“Why do you make those who are heroes or heroines in films your idols? Heartbroken now...”

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and UP, have been protesting for over two months at Delhi's borders demanding rollback of the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

(With inputs from PTI)