Farmers’ Protest is finally getting the attention it deserved, be it negative or positive: Farmers’ protest grabs global attention as celebs join debate. Farmers’ protest in India gained widespread support not only from organizations and Opposition leaders but also from artistes and sports personalities. While some are in favour of the protest, some are against it. Let’s have a look.
Why is the Farmers’ Protest happening?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, enacted farm laws will free farmers from bullying middlemen, farmers say they fear big corporations. Some of India’s farmers are among the country’s poorest people, but government policies have long protected them from the ravages of open market prices. That is changing.
A set of three laws passed in September aims to deregulate India’s enormous agriculture sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said they will “liberate” farmers from the tyranny of middlemen.
But many farmers fear that they stand to lose more than they could gain from the new regulations and that the main beneficiaries will be agricultural corporations with gargantuan financial firepower. As a result, the farmers have taken to the streets in the biggest such protests in years. The demonstrations ramped up last week when several thousand protesters from the northern states of Punjab and Haryana set out to converge on the capital, New Delhi. Police blocked them at the city’s borders, denying them permission to gather in a place of their choice.
Why is any of this a problem?
Farmers have some genuine concerns.
A big one is that the new rules remove many of their safeguards. More than 86 percent of India’s cultivated farmland is controlled by smallholder farmers who own less than two hectares (five acres) of land each. They fear that they just do not have enough bargaining power to get the kinds of prices they need for a decent standard of living when they negotiate to sell their products to larger companies.
#Farmerprotests VS #Indiastandstogether
Facts must be ascertained before the rush to comment, the ministry added, using the hashtags #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda to make its point.
India on Wednesday hit out at global celebrities such as singer Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg for their support of the farmers’ protests, the focus of a sharply polarised international debate that saw several Bollywood and cricket stars and top ministers rally around the government in its pushback.
From international celebrity Priyanka Chopra Jonas to veteran actor Dharmendra, these stars are urging the government to take quick action to resolve the farmers’ agitation.
While some joined the farmers at the protesting site, others use their social media accounts to extend their support. They even used various hashtags like #Jaikisan #Delhi Chalo #Farmers Protest #StandWithFarmers #Tractor2Twitter
While several Bollywood celebrities and sportspersons took to social media on Wednesday urging the Country to stand “united” as the ongoing Farmers agitation against the new Agri laws drew widespread international attention on social media platforms.
Celebs who are in support of the Farmers’ Protest
Here are some celebrities who have taken their stand on social media to raise their concerns for the Indian farmers – The people who are the backbone for agriculture.
International celebs who took a stand on their social media platforms for the Farmers’ Protest
Global celebs jump in! Pressure on Bollywood to take a stand about the ongoing farmers’ protest?

why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest https://t.co/obmIlXhK9S
— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 2, 2021
We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India.
https://t.co/tqvR0oHgo0— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) February 2, 2021
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg took to Twitter to share a toolkit on farmers’ protest, which had details on how to support and protest against the farm laws globally. The toolkit included details on January 26 protest. She later deleted the tweet after several social media users accused her of being a part of an “international conspiracy to defame India.”
Yes! Thank you so much @rihanna. This is a humanity issue! #IStandWithFarmers and this narrative is TIRED. ❤️ https://t.co/H0h5EM7mNW
— Lilly // #LateWithLilly (@Lilly) February 2, 2021
“Paid actors,” huh? Quite the casting director, I hope they’re not overlooked during awards season. I stand with the farmers. #FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/moONj03tN0
— Mia K. (@miakhalifa) February 3, 2021
Singer Jay Sean took to his Instagram handle and posted a picture in support of the farmers in his caption, check it out:
Bollywood celebs who are in support of the Farmers’ Protest
Diljit Dosanjh is amongst the impactful celebrities whose tweets and support to the farmers’ protest was lauded.
Gal PYAR Di Kariye.. Dharm Koi V Ladai Ni Sikhaunda..🙏🏾
Hindu-Sikh-Muslim-Isai-Jaini-Bodhi
Sab Bhara Ne 1 Dujey De 🙏🏾
BHARAT ES KAR KE HEE DUNIA TE VAKHRA AA.. KION KE ETHEY SAB PYAAR NAAL REHNDE NE 🙏🏾
Har Dharm Da Satkaar Kita Janda 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/dis0vUaRDa
— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) December 6, 2020
Actor Sonu Sood, who won millions of hearts for his kind gesture over the past few months, has yet again won us over with his heart-melting post for farmers. His post in Hindi read, “We exists because of farmers”.
किसान है .. तो हम हैं।
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) December 7, 2020
Bollywood and Hollywood megastar Priyanka Chopra Jonas also extended her support to the agitated farmers’. She retweeted Diljit’s Tweet and urged the Indian government to take stringent action in support of India’s food soldiers.
Our farmers are India’s Food Soldiers. Their fears need to be allayed. Their hopes need to be met. As a thriving democracy, we must ensure that this crises is resolved sooner than later. https://t.co/PDOD0AIeFv
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) December 6, 2020
Actress Preity Zinta, who lives with her husband Gene in Los Angeles also came out to support farmers and expressed hope that the ongoing talks will yield a solution to all the worries of the ‘soldiers of the soil’ who are protesting amid the cold.
My heart goes out 2the farmers & their families protesting in the cold in this pandemic.They are the soldiers of the soil that keep our country going.I sincerely hope the talks between the farmers & govt yield positive results soon & all is resolved. #Farmerprotests #Rabrakha 🙏 pic.twitter.com/b7eW8p8N3P
— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) December 6, 2020
Actress Sonam Kapoor shared some pictures on social media along with a quote, which read, “When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilization”
“When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilization.” Daniel Webster 🇮🇳 https://t.co/26mfnHGZki
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) December 6, 2020
OTHER CELEBS ALSO TWEETED, CHECK IT OUT:
Next time you shop for vegetables, (which u will soon irrespective of where u live or how much meat/fish u eat), don’t wonder why the prices for vegetables are constantly rising. India is still an agrarian economy. It’s not just a ‘farmer’s issue’. Everything is connected. https://t.co/8CAF9xcsIs
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) November 27, 2020
Punjabi Artist Gippy Grewal had expressed disappointment over the silence of Bollywood. He took to Twitter and wrote that for years Punjab has welcomed Bollywood with open arms but its silence over the issue was painful.
Dear Bollywood,
Every now and then your movies have been shot in Punjab & everytime you have been welcomed with open heart. But today when Punjab needs u the most, u didn’t show up and speak a word. #DISAPPOINTED #8_दिसंबर_भारत_बन्द#TakeBackFarmLaws#FarmersAreLifeline— Gippy Grewal (@GippyGrewal) December 5, 2020
If you eat today, thank a farmer.
I stand in solidarity with every farmer in our country. #JaiKisaan
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) December 5, 2020
Je tuc saanu pyaar krde o , kisaaana nu pyaaar krde o, insaaniyat nu pyaar krde o… taan plz do support farmers… tuhada ikk ikk share v keemti a… ikk ikk tweet retweet… plz do dat… use hashtags#FarmersProtestChallenge #FarmersProtests #FarmersDelhiProtest
— Ammy Virk (@AmmyVirk) November 29, 2020
Bollywood celebs, sportspersons rally against international tweets on Farmers’ Protest
The latest to join the “India against Propaganda” hashtag on Twitter was sports star Sachin Tendulkar who took to the social media platform saying that “external forces” can observe but cannot participate in an indirect reference to Farmers’ Protest. Tendulkar referred to as the “God of Indian Cricket” urged people to remain “United as a Nation.”
India’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants.
Indians know India and should decide for India. Let’s remain united as a nation.#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 3, 2021
Bollywood celebs Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan, Karan Johar and Suneil Shetty had also urged people to not fall for “false propaganda against India” and to “take a comprehensive view of things.”
Don’t fall for any false propaganda against India or Indian policies. Its important to stand united at this hour w/o any infighting 🙏🏼#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda
— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) February 3, 2021
Farmers constitute an extremely important part of our country. And the efforts being undertaken to resolve their issues are evident. Let’s support an amicable resolution, rather than paying attention to anyone creating differences. 🙏🏻#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda https://t.co/LgAn6tIwWp
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) February 3, 2021
We must always take a comprehensive view of things, as there is nothing more dangerous than half truth. #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda @hiteshjain33 https://t.co/7rNZ683ZAU
— Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) February 3, 2021
We live in turbulent times and the need of the hour is prudence and patience at every turn. Let us together, make every effort we can to find solutions that work for everyone—our farmers are the backbone of India. Let us not let anyone divide us. #IndiaTogether
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) February 3, 2021
#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda pic.twitter.com/JpUKyoB4vn
— Lata Mangeshkar (@mangeshkarlata) February 3, 2021
On Wednesday, the Ministry of external affairs in its statement said that the government has passed the laws “after a full debate and discussion” and has “initiated a series of talks”to address the farmers’ issue. The statement also condemned the violence that broke out during the protests on Republic Day. The MEA also condemned celebrities who have drawn attention to the Farmers’ Protest on Social media.
KEEP READING THE SPACE FOR MORE UPDATES ON FARMERS’ AGITATION.