Indian celebrities criticise at Rihanna for farmers' protest tweet

Modi's new agriculture laws face backlash after thousands of Indian farmers took to the streets in protest

Security personnel clash with demonstrators during a rally in support of Indian farmers. The farmers are protesting at various locations at the capital, New Delhi. EPA

A protester is surrounded by security personnel at a demonstration in support of farmers, in New Delhi, India. Reuters

A demonstrator is held back behind a police shield at a rally in support of Indian farmers in New Delhi, India. Farmers are protesting against new farming laws. Reuters

Security personnel and protesters clash at a demonstration in solidarity with Indian farmers in New Delhi, India. Farmers say new laws leave them at the mercy of corporations. EPA

Security personnel, some carrying 'lathi' sticks for crowd control, block a road in New Delhi, India, during a protest in support of farmers. EPA

Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at press conference in New Delhi, India. Congress has called for the new farming laws to be repealed. EPA

Rakesh Tikait, a leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union farmers' group, is helped onstage at a Maha Panchayat village council meeting, in Kandela village, Jind district, Haryana state, India. Reuters

Rakesh Tikait, a leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union farmers' organisation at a grand village council meeting in Kandela village, Jind district, in Haryana state, India. Reuters

Rakesh Tikait, a leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union farmers' group, turns from the crowd at a grand village council meeting at Kandela village, Jind district, in Haryana state, India. Reuters

Farmers and supporters attend a grand village council meeting at Kandela village, Jind district, in Haryana state, India. Reuters

Protesting farmers encounter barbed wire and barricades placed by security personnel at the Delhi Ghazipur Border, near New Delhi, India. EPA

Indian lawyers from Punjab state attend a protest by farmers at the Delhi Ghazipur Border, near New Delhi, India. EPA

Villagers leave after a grand village council meeting as part of farmers' protests against farming laws, at Kandela, Jind district, in Haryana state, India. Reuters

Indian farmers with tractors and trailers protesting at the Delhi Ghazipur Border near New Delhi, India. EPA

Protesting Indian farmers rest in a trailer at the Delhi Ghazipur Border near New Delhi, India. EPA

Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference in New Delhi, India. Congress has backed the protesting farmers. EPA

Indian celebrities on Wednesday hit back at pop superstar Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg for making social media comments about mass farmers' protests.

As the government and farmers set out ever-tougher positions in their two-month battle over new agriculture laws, sporting legend Sachin Tendulkar and a host of Bollywood stars hit out at what the foreign ministry called sensationalist Twitter comments.

Rihanna, who has more than 100 million Twitter followers, wrote "why aren't we talking about this?!", with a link to a news story about an internet power cut at the protest camps where tens of thousands of farmers have been since November.

More than one million people retweeted, liked or commented on her Tweet.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg also tweeted a story about the power cut, saying: "We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India." Meena Harris, a niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris – whose mother was born in India – added her support.

The celebrity tweets triggered an online storm in India, where the protests are the biggest challenge to Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he took power in 2014.

"The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible," the foreign ministry said.

Tendulkar, cricket's highest-scoring international, led the Twitter riposte by Indian celebrities.

"India's sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants," he said.

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, a Modi supporter, called the protesting farmers terrorists and Rihanna a fool.

Actors and directors Anupam Kher, Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Karan Johar joined the fray against the "foreigners".

The government later threatened Twitter with "penal action" for unlocking 250 accounts and tweets on the farmers' protests that the US company had previously blocked. Twitter took the initial action after a government notice, but reversed course after a few hours.

Among accounts targeted was a prominent news magazine and others linked to farmer unions.

The Electronics and IT ministry said Twitter had unilaterally unblocked the accounts and content and that it was obliged to obey government orders. "Refusal to do so will invite penal action."

A senior ministry official told AFP that the blocking order had targeted content that had the hashtag "#ModiPlanningFarmerGenocide" and not general comments about the protests.

India also faced criticism from media watchdogs over the arrest of a journalist covering the protests and investigations launched into five others – who could face sedition charges.

Amid the war of words, authorities stepped up pressure on the protest camps, putting up barbed-wire fences around some and laying down spikes on roads leading to them so that tractors cannot bring reinforcements.

But at a rally attended by an estimated 50,000 people in Haryana state, farmers leader Rakesh Tikait vowed to mobilise thousands more farmers for the Delhi protests where a day of action is planned for Saturday.