Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh who is currently in isolation due to COVID 19, said on Monday that state government agencies would probe into tweets by Indian celebrities over the farmers’ protest.
Recently, celebrities and prominent sports personalities like Akshay Kumar, Saina Nehwal, Sachin Tendulkar, and Lata Mangeshkar among others rallied around the government via social media, using hashtags #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda, to counter tweets by foreign pop star Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg in support of the farmers’ protest.
This comes following, Congress’ Sachin Sawant had demanded a probe to find out whether national celebrities were under pressure from the government. Sawant met Home Minister Anil Deshmukh via Zoom and after that, the COngress minister demanded an inquiry into these tweets.
‘Demanded investigation of BJP connection into the tweets of celebrities & security to be provided to our national heroes if needed & find out whether these celebrities were arm-twisted by BJP.’ Responding to the demand, Deshmukh said the objection of the Congress leaders is in connection with the timing of the tweets and whether they were issued under pressure.
Bjp is trying to deliberately twist the issue. We have demanded probe of BJP not celebrities. Why bjp is keeping mum on why tweets of Akshay Kumar and Saina Nehwal are matching with each other? Why Suniel Shetty tags his tweet to a BJP office bearer? Why bjp is scared of probe? https://t.co/jvmPewP6R3 pic.twitter.com/DQKy17phpX
— Sachin Sawant सचिन सावंत (@sachin_inc) February 8, 2021
“Reactions are coming in from across celebrities across the world. Celebrities like Rihanna also responded. Following that renowned people from their field – Sachin Tendulkar, Lata ji, Akshay Kumar have tweeted. But you have a question about the timing of the tweets and if it was done due to pressure, the tweet by Akshay Kumar and Saina Nehwal looks similar,” said the home minister.
On Sunday MNS chief Raj Thackeray also stated that the Centre should not have asked prominent personalities to tweet in their support on the issue and put their reputation at stake. Now, these celebrities are getting trolled on social media for tweeting on behalf of the government.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting to repeal the center’s three controversial farm bills at the Delhi border since November 2020. Reportedly, while protesting at the several borders of the national capital as many as 170 farmers have been killed so far.