Why is India angry with Rihanna, Greta Thunberg and Meena Harris?

Published on 06-Feb-2021

Khushboo Razdan

Activists of United Hindu Front burn an effigy with a picture of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during a demonstration in New Delhi, February 4, 2021. /VCG

"International interference in Indian affairs won't be tolerated," warned banners waved by the United Hindu Front activists who burned photos of teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, pop star Rihanna and Meena Harris, the niece of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday.

The outrage followed an investigation launched by the Delhi Police Cyber Crime Cell on charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy against the creators of a "toolkit" on the country's months-long farm protests, which Thunberg shared. The docket provided a crash course on organizing campaigns, like tips on popular hashtags and suggestions on starting an online petition.

"No person has been named in the FIR (first information report)," said Praveer Ranjan, the special commissioner of Delhi Police, denying reports that a case was filed against the Swedish environmentalist who has now deleted the "controversial" toolkit saying it was being "updated by people on the ground in India."

Thunberg also declared to her over 4.7 million followers on Twitter: "I still #StandWithFarmers and support their peaceful protest," adding "no amount of threat and hate" will ever change her mind.

How it started?

It all started when thousands of agitating Indian farmers who have encamped at various borders of Delhi, the country's capital city, for over two months now found an unexpected cheerleader in global pop sensation Rihanna on Tuesday.

"Why aren't we talking about this? #FarmersProtest" asked the "Don't Stop The Music" singer on social media platform Twitter, commenting on a news report about the internet shutdown imposed to hobble the campaign against the Narendra Modi government's three agriculture laws.

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