Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has reacted strongly after Ministry of External Affairs regarded pop-star Rihanna and human activist Greta Thunberg's support to farmers' protest as 'inaccurate and irresponsible'. The MEA also used the hashtags #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda.
Using the same Tendulkar said that the happenings of a country are their internal matter and outsiders can watch it but cannot participate in the same. "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," he wrote.
Barbadian singer Rihanna had cited an article from the international media on internet shutdown in the National Capital, which was done to bring the movement to a standstill, and said that why no one was talking about the same. The 16-year old climate change activist Greta Thunberg also showed her solidarity with the farmers' protests, which has created a huge uproar in the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs, reacting to the support the farmers' protest was getting from international celebrities, in a release said, "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.
"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," the statement added.
After the MEA's statement several Indian celebrities have spoken against the misinformation and the international celebs interfering in India's internal matters, namely Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Karan Johar.
Former left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha too had said earlier in the day that India doesn't need outsiders poking their nose in their internal matter.