India equipped to resolve crisis amicably: Lata Mangeshkar on global support for farmers' protests

Lata Mangeshkar/picture courtesy: AFP

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar on Wednesday joined Indian personalities, including cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actors Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, in expressing support for the government's stand on the ongoing farmers' protests, saying that the country is capable of solving problems "amicably". Mangeshkar's statement came after the Ministry of External Affairs reacted sharply to comments by international pop star Rihanna, teen climate activist Greta Thunberg and others on farmers' protests.

The "temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments¿ is neither accurate nor responsible, the Ministry of External Affairs said as the international spotlight swivelled to the two-month protest to demand a rollback of three new agri laws and a host of stars, including singer Jay Sean and actor John Cusack, turned their attention to it.

The 91-year-old singer took to Twitter and shared a note, with the hashtag "#IndiaTogether" and "#IndiaAgainstPropaganda." "

Indian cricket skipper Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane also made similar appeals, using the hashtag #IndiaTogether.

Earlier in the day, several Bollywood stars joined top central ministers to criticise the "half-truths" of international forces. The tweets advised people to focus on the government's efforts to resolve the farmer crisis, sharing the MEA statement that some "vested interest groups" were trying to enforce their agenda on the protests and that a very small section of farmers in parts of the country has some reservations about the farm reforms which were passed by Parliament after full debate and discussion.

"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," it said. Kumar was among the first to share the MEA statement, saying efforts by the government to solve the issue are "evident". Devgn, actor Kangana Ranaut, Suniel Shetty and filmmaker Karan Johar were among those who urged people to be wary of false propaganda.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points since November last year, demanding the government to repeal the three farm laws and legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for their crops. The protest sites have been turned into fortresses with police putting up multi-layer barricades and concertina wires to stop the movement of vehicles. The strengthened security measures at the agitation sites across the Delhi borders come after the violence during the Republic Day tractor parade.

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