Singer Rihanna extends support to farmers’ protest in India; questions internet ban

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, February 2

Pop sensation Rihanna in a surprising move on Tuesday backed the ongoing farmers’ protest as she took to Twitter to question the internet ban imposed in Haryana and parts of Delhi by the BJP governments.

Sharing a news report by CNN on India’s farmers’ protest, the singer asked, “Why aren’t we talking about this?!”

The report by CNN was about the government’s decision to cut internet services to the protesting farmers.

This was after the BJP government in Haryana banned internet services in 14 out of 22 districts. The ban was first for 24 hours before the government extended it till 2 February.

why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest https://t.co/obmIlXhK9S

— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 2, 2021

A similar ban was imposed in parts of Delhi by the city police, which reports to Ministry of Home Affairs headed by Amit Shah.

Rihanna extending support to farmers assumes significance given her global appeal. She has in excess of 100 million followers on Twitter alone.

The Indian government has faced condemnation for its handling of the farmers’ protests. Twitter this week blocked hundreds of accounts for tweeting on the farmers’ protest.

They included CPI-M MP Mohammed Salim, news website The Caravan and Kisan Ekta Morcha, the organisation representing protesting farmers, among others.

The microblogging site had to withdraw its decision, taken at the behest of the IT ministry of the Modi government, after widespread outrage.