Rihanna and Greta prompt an MEA outburst — and a hashtag firestorm
NB: 42,480 Indian farmers and daily-wage workers dependent on agriculture committed suicide in 2019; 28 Indians dependent on farming commit suicide every day (some estimates are much higher). About 300,000 famers had committed suicide by 2014; we can estimate how many more have killed themselves since then. There is also the suspicion the figures are higher than various state governments admit. The government has stopped publishing data on farmer suicides after 2015. In the face of this calamity, our celebrity twits get galvanised into action only when Rihanna notices the kisan agitation. What a pathetic joke. DS
Rihanna and Greta prompt an MEA outburst — and a hashtag firestorm
In a highly unusual move that has raised eyebrows, the government Wednesday slammed “celebrities and others” for their comments in support of farmer protests, calling them “neither accurate nor responsible”. This came after pop icon Rihanna, teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg and lawyer-author Meena Harris, niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris, spoke out on the farmer protests. The Ministry of External Affairs, in an official statement, 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....”.
Day
after Rihanna post, celebrities speak up for government
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated:
“Motivated campaigns targeting India will never succeed. We have the self
confidence today to hold our own. This India will push back.” Defending the farm laws, the MEA gave a full account of the process: “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 provide
greater flexibility to farmers. They also pave the way for economically and
ecologically sustainable farming.”
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rihanna-farmers-protest-mea-7173657/
NB: Our External Affairs Minister says “The Parliament of India, after a full debate and discussion, passed reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector. (emphasis added) " This is false and the minister knows it. The Bills which affect the lives of millions were passed hastily, with no regard to due process. Had due process been followed, there was a good chance the Bills would have been rejected. Here are some comments:
Modi govt’s hasty passage of farm Bills shows there is nosanctity to law-making in India
The Way Farm Bills Passed in Rajya Sabha Shows Decline in Culture of Legislative Scrutiny
Interested readers can research this further.
The Minister also said "This India will push back". The implication of this remark is that India under Jawaharlal Nehru or Lal Bahadur Shastri or Mrs Gandhi was a pushover. This exemplifies the machismo imagery with which this government likes to clothe itself. It's pathetic, especially as it seems to be flexing its muscles in response to two foreign civilians with no official connection whatever.
Here's what a senior opposition politician (Mr Chidambaram) has to say about this: “It is good that Rihanna and Greta Thunberg can wake up the MEA. Come on MEA, when will you realize that people concerned with issues of human rights and livelihoods do not recognize national boundaries? Why did MEA comment on the military coup in Myanmar? Why is it “deeply concerning” to the MEA? Why does MEA regularly comment on issues that are “internal” to Sri Lanka and Nepal? Why did the PM of India comment on the assault on the Capitol building in Washington by the Trump storm troopers? It is sad that someone erudite and worldly wise like Mr S Jaishankar should allow such puerile reactions by the MEA.”
He forgot to remind our Foreign Minister and our slippery celebrities that in July 2019, our Prime Minister visited the USA, where in a massive public meeting, in the presence of the now-disgraced President Trump, uttered the words Abki baar Trump Sarkar: ('And this time, a Trump government'). You can read more about this event and the controversy that followed it here. I will add that our celebrities do not seem to be in a tweeting frenzy when it comes to farmers and village labourers committing suicide year after year.
That this government feels threated by a musician and a child environment activist speaks for its fragile sense of self-respect. That it can resort to blatant falsehood is something we are used to. Rihanna has been much appreciated in India too. She has over 100 million Twitter followers. Lets hope they, along with millions of Indians at home and abroad, can follow our agricultural crisis with sympathy and understanding. Noam Chomsky sums up the need for international solidarity better than most. DS
Discussion
on Indian Agriculture and the ongoing Kisan agitation
Navsharan
Singh: A million reasons to march
Jairus
Banaji on the Indian corporate strategy of subordinating farm households and
family labor
STATE OF
RURAL AND AGRARIAN INDIA REPORT 2020. By the Network of Rural and Agrarian
Studies
Jairus Banaji on the Indian corporatist strategy of
subordinating farm households and family labor
Navsharan Singh: A million reasons to march
Discussion on Indian Agriculture and the ongoing Kisan
agitation
Amit Bhaduri: Faces in mirror held up by farmers’
protest
Can Capitalism and Democracy Coexist?
Amandeep Sandhu on Arthiyas - extract from PANJAB:
Journeys Through Fault Lines
Ravinder Kaur:
Has Modi finally met his match in India's farmers?
Indian Farmers' Protest - Work in progress videos
STATE OF RURAL AND AGRARIAN INDIA REPORT 2020. By the
Network of Rural and Agrarian Studies
Amit Bhaduri: Faces in mirror held up by farmers’
protest
Noam Chomsky: Internationalism or Extinction (Universalizing Resistance)
Can Capitalism and Democracy Coexist?
Sam Kriss: 'Neoliberalism' isn't a left-wing insult but a monstrous system of inequality
