Sitharaman to Smriti Irani, Ministers Take to Twitter to Condemn Tweets By Rihanna, Greta Thunberg
03-February-2021

Several ministers of the Narendra Modi government on Wednesday, in reaction to the Rihanna and Greta Thunberg's tweet on the farmers protests, said that it was a part of 'international propaganda' and tweeted with hashtags #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda.

�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.�#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropagandahttps://t.co/rGJiPvlM4D

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) February 3, 2021

This was after the Ministry of External Affairs released a statement saying celebrities tweeting on the farmers protests were neither accurate, nor responsible.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman took to Twitter, quote-tweeting the Ministry of External affairs statement on the issue, saying, "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.�

We stand together.

We stand United against all attempts to malign India through propaganda and fake narratives. #IndiaTogether#IndiaAgainstPropaganda

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) February 3, 2021

BJP chief JP Nadda said, "We stand together. We stand United against all attempts to malign India through propaganda and fake narratives."

Times are changing. Influencers on the digital media platforms have immense power when they talk to their followers. One must be mindful of that power and the responsibility that comes with it.#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda #GenerallySaying pic.twitter.com/WCyMDO2vQa

— Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) February 3, 2021

Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways VK Singh said, "Times are changing. Influencers on the digital media platforms have immense power when they talk to their followers. One must be mindful of that power and the responsibility that comes with it."

Times are changing. Influencers on the digital media platforms have immense power when they talk to their followers. One must be mindful of that power and the responsibility that comes with it.#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda #GenerallySaying pic.twitter.com/WCyMDO2vQa

� Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) February 3, 2021

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, "For 1000 of years India was defeated, occupied, looted & ruled by the invaders not because India was weak but there was always a Jaichand. We need to ask who�s behind this international propaganda to defame India."

#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda https://t.co/TfdgXfrmNt pic.twitter.com/gRmIaL5Guw

� Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) February 3, 2021

Union Cabinet Minister for Textiles and Women & Child Development Smriti Irani too tweeted the statement with the hashtags #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda.

#IndiaTogether#IndiaAgainstPropaganda pic.twitter.com/VPGvfm5mnC

� Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) February 3, 2021

Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said, "It is unfortunate to see vested interest groups trying to derail the process & protests by enforcing their agenda. We saw this on Republic Day & are seeing it again when some public figures are making statements without ascertaining facts & proper understanding of issues."

"The reformist legislation relating to agricultural sector were passed by India's parliament after full debate & discussion. The govt has already held 11 rounds of talks with some farmers who expressed their reservations about the laws," he said.

The reformist legislation relating to agricultural sector were passed by India's parliament after full debate & discussion. The govt has already held 11 rounds of talks with some farmers who expressed their reservations about the laws.#IndiaTogether#IndiaAgainstPropaganda pic.twitter.com/RRdjyQUfLz

� Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) February 3, 2021

Bhupendra Yadav, BJP general secretary said, "So people on foreign soil read one article and tweeted against laws made in India. Would have been better had they educated themselves on the laws first. But that would be expecting too much from the liberal cabal."

So people on foreign soil read one article and tweeted against laws made in India. Would have been better had they educated themselves on the laws first. But that would be expecting too much from the liberal cabal. #IndiaAgainstPropaganda

� Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) February 3, 2021

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs put out a statement saying that comments by celebrities tweeting on the issue were "neither accurate nor responsible".

�It was unfortunate to see vested interest groups trying to enforce their agenda on these protests, and derail them. This was egregiously witnessed on January 26," the ministry said as it called out the �sensationalist social media hashtags and comments�.