Rihanna supports India's farmers' protest

MUMBAI:

International pop star Rihanna on Tuesday became the first global name to voice her support to the ongoing farmers' agitation while criticising the internet shutdown at the protest site.

The 32-year-old singer, who has over 100 million followers on Twitter, took to the microblogging site and shared a CNN news article headlined, "India cuts internet around New Delhi as protesting farmers clash with police."

"Why aren't we talking about this? #FarmersProtest," Rihanna wrote.

The singer's tweet gained instant traction on Twitter, with more than one lakh retweets and two lakh likes within hours.

ALSO READ:

Also Read: Congressmen seek FBI inquiry into vandalism of Gandhi statue

Bollywood actors Richa Chadha and Swara Bhasker, who have been vocal supporters of the agitation, lauded Rihanna's remarks, while actor Kangana Ranaut criticised her statement.

Only a few stars from Bollywood, however, have come out in support of farmers, including Diljit Dosanjh, Taapsee Pannu, Richa Chadha, Sonu Sood, filmmaker Hansal Mehta, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Divya Dutta and Neha Sharma.

Farmer unions on Monday announced a countrywide 'chakka jam' on February 6, when they would block national and state highways for three hours in protest against the internet ban in areas near their agitation sites, harassment allegedly meted out to them by authorities and other issues. (PTI)

ALSO WATCH: