The Farm Protests have got some international backers now - backers who don't know what the protests are all about and backers who refuse to equate desecration of US Capitol and Delhi's Red Fort. In an aptly befitting move, India derided them as trolls and asked them to be more responsible and knowledged.
After Indian government zeroed in on Caravan India and other conspiracy counters for spreading misinformation which has a potential to create a massive law and order breakdown, there was a sudden spate of messages from foreign influencers who tweeted in support of the protests in India. They got their biggest backer in Rihanna, a pop singer whose knowledge over this topic is clearly near to zero. She tweeted a total of two political tweets post US elections – one over Myanmar and one over India.
Some like Greta Thunberg are known regularly to shoot their mouths off irrespective of the topic even though it is amply clear that she has no clue what she is typing about.
Interestingly, a known Indian baiter questioned her stand on this topic – the farmers from the protesting areas are notorious for farm stubble burning and other practices harming the environment.
Some names need a special mention –
Meena Harris, close to the corridors of power in USA. It needs to be seen if she is acting as a mouthpiece of the government or as a freelancer at odds with the stand of the government.
A foreign news counter’s Indian correspondent. Clearly, the same tweet would have made half the governments of the world deport her for meddling in internal affairs of the host country.
To give a background of the issue, Indian government passed a few laws which give additional avenues for the farmers to boost their income – the primary being a farmer being allowed to sell his produce anywhere and to whomsoever he want in place of the local Mandi(market) to which he is tagged to. This law, though doing much good for a farmer invited a huge backlash by those who control access to the Mandis and who face a massive haircut in their incomes if the farmers choose a different seller.
The media and the vested interests including banned Khalistani terrorists like Gurpawant Singh Pannu were quick to jump in portraying these as genuine farmer protests fully ignoring that farmers elsewhere in India are not at all supporting the stand of the protesters in Delhi. Things came to a blow when these protesters raided Delhi on Jan 26 leading to desecration of national monuments and resulting in huge loss of life and property. An event comparable to storming of the US Capitol, the interested parties, naturally, didn’t want to look at it from that angle.
One look at the images tell how similar both the events are.
India’s reaction to this new siege on narrative is unexpected. In a formal note, India’s Ministry of External Affairs minced no words.
“The Parliament of India, after a full debate and discussion, passed reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector. These reforms give expanded market access and provided greater flexibility to farmers. They also pave the way for economically and ecologically sustainable farming.
A very small section of farmers in parts of India have some reservations about these reforms. Respecting the sentiments of the protestors, the Government of India has initiated a series of talks with their representatives. Union Ministers have been part of the negotiations, and eleven rounds of talks have already been held. The Government has 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. 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.
Indian police forces have handled these protests with utmost restraint. 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.
We would like to emphasise that these 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.
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 last lines are telling. In no means, India has told these influencers that sensationalist hashtags may invite audience but it doesn’t mean the people tweeting are either knowledged or responsible – in other words, online trolls who jump in and rake dirt.
The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible.
This is an apt reaction. But, one may wonder if this is enough. One would want to see, in this context, what the government is planning to do to bring these motivated protests to a conclusion.
On a concluding note, it should be remembered that APMC and Mandi Brokerage system doesn’t exist in any country where these foreign backers hail from and it only highlights the hollowness of their argument when they demand a Mandi Brokerage System in India but not in their own countries. Also to note is the fact that passing the Farm Bills is India’s sovereign right and desecration of symbols of power is treated as treason in any country in the world.
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