Former Indian captains Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and current men’s team head coach Ravi Shastri were among the cricketers who on Wednesday tweeted using hashtags coined by the Ministry of External Affairs in response to global criticism of the Centre’s handling of the farmers’ protests.
The two hashtags are #IndiaAgainstPropaganda and #IndiaTogether. Several film personalities and politicians also used the hashtag to amplify the government’s stand on Wednesday.
Later on, current India captain Virat Kohli as well Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane posted their messages using the #IndiaTogether hashtag.
Also read: Indian celebrities, leaders tweet in one voice to counter global criticism of crackdown on protests
Tendulkar wrote that “external forces can be spectators but not participants. Indians know India and should decide for India” while Kumble tweeted “India is more than capable of taking her internal issues to amicable solutions.”
India’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 3, 2021
Indians know India and should decide for India. Let's remain united as a nation.#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda
Let us all stay united in this hour of disagreements. Farmers are an integral part of our country and I'm sure an amicable solution will be found between all parties to bring about peace and move forward together. #IndiaTogether
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) February 3, 2021
India has always been stronger when we all stand together and finding a solution is the need of the hour. Our farmers play an important role in our nation’s well being and I am sure everyone will play their roles to find a solution TOGETHER. #IndiaTogether 🇮🇳
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) February 3, 2021
There’s no issue that cannot be resolved if we stand together as one. Let’s remain united and work towards resolving our internal issues #IndiaTogether
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) February 3, 2021
Stronger together 🇮🇳 #IndiaTogether
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) February 3, 2021
Shastri said that “farmers are the backbone of any country’s ecosystem,” adding that “this is an internal matter.”
Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan were among other Indian cricketers who tweeted, as did BJP MP and former cricketer Gautam Gambhir.
Agriculture is a very important part of the machinery of the Indian economic system. Farmers are the backbone of any country’s ecosystem. This is an internal matter which I’m sure will be resolved through dialogue. Jai Hind! #IndiaStandsTogether #IndiaAgainstPropoganda 🇮🇳
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 3, 2021
As the world's largest democracy, India is more than capable of taking her internal issues to amicable solutions. Onwards and upwards. #IndiaTogether#IndiaAgainstPropaganda
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) February 3, 2021
Reaching a solution that benefits our great nation is of utmost importance right now. Let’s stand together and move forward together towards a better and brighter future. #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) February 3, 2021
As proud citizens of our beloved India, let’s stand united in this hour of crisis. There is no problem that cannot be resolved. Our farmer community is the lifeblood of this nation and I am confident that a peaceful resolution will be reached soon 🇮🇳 #IndiaTogether
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) February 4, 2021
Outside forces have been trying to divide us, rule over us for centuries. But India remains & will thrive come what may! Use your billions, try your best! This is the New India 🇮🇳#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropoganda
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) February 3, 2021
We as a country have issues to resolve today and will have issues to resolve tomorrow as well, but that doesn't mean we create a divide or get perturbed by external forces. Everything can be resolved through amicable and unbiased dialogue. #IndiaAgainstPropaganda#IndiaTogether
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) February 3, 2021
India always has a great tradition of diverse views on all subjects. We may not agree with each other all the time but most of us don't like someone interfering and commentating on our internal matters because we rarely do that. #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) February 3, 2021
The ministry’s statement on Wednesday, where it used the hashtags, came after pop singer Rihanna tweeted a news article about the farmers’ protests against the recently passed agriculture reforms. “Why aren’t we talking about this?!” she had asked, using the hashtag #FarmersProtest.
Rihanna had shared a CNN article about the Centre’s decision to block internet services at three protest sites near Delhi borders, a favoured tactic of the Narendra Modi government to thwart protests. Internet was also suspended in districts of Haryana, following violence on Republic Day.
The tweet went viral on social media, leading to an outpouring of support from the international community for the farmers.
The ministry had then issued a statement warning about the dangers of the use of hashtags. The ministry said that the comments were “neither accurate nor responsible”, adding that the protests were by “a very small section of farmers” in parts of India.
Also read: After Rihanna, an outpouring of international celebrity support for farmers protest
