Rihanna Tweeted About Farmers' Protests In India & Officials Say It Was 'Irresponsible'

Jagmeet Singh backed her up, though.
Managing Editor, Canada

Officials in India have responded after Rihanna’s farmers’ protest tweet ended up going viral on Tuesday evening.

On February 2, the world-famous singer took to Twitter to speak out about the ongoing protests in India, sharing a CNN article and asking “why aren’t we talking about this?!”

Editor's Choice: 7 Big Store Brands That Are Shutting Down Locations Across Canada In 2021

Within a number of hours, her post had been shared over 200,000 times and had received thousands of responses.

Several high-profile individuals, including people like Greta Thunberg and Jagmeet Singh, repeated Rihanna’s message or praised her for speaking out.

Canada's NDP leader, who has chatted with the singer in the past, thanked her for "consistently uplifting and empowering the voices of the oppressed."

However, India's external affairs ministry responded to say that “the temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible.”

Pragyan Ojha, a well-known former cricketer in the country, replied directly to Rihanna and wrote, “My country is proud of our farmers and knows how important they are, I trust it will be addressed soon. We don’t need an outsider poking her nose in our internal matters!”

His reaction was liked by over 43,000 Twitter-users.

Demonstrations have been occurring in India, and across the world, for several months as farmers in the country protest laws they say will put their livelihoods and freedom at risk.

  • Managing Editor

    Helena Hanson (she/her) is the Managing Editor of Canada for Narcity and MTL Blog, where she brings her expertise in dreamy, aspirational travel journalism to life. A first-class graduate of Cardiff University's School of Journalism, Helena has a passion for inspiring readers to discover the magic in their own backyards. Originally from the U.K., Helena has spent years uncovering hidden gems and must-see destinations across countries like Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and more. Having lived in both Canada and Australia, she's become a seasoned expert in off-the-beaten-path adventures and bucket-list experiences that don't break the bank. Whether she's writing about things to do in Ottawa, Montreal, or her favourite spot—Disney World—Helena hopes to leave readers dreaming of their next adventure.

Carney travels to India as Sikh Canadians warn about threats from the Indian government

Canadian Sikhs are calling on Carney to take a firmer stand on India.

I'm an Ottawa local and this is my ultimate list of the 10 best brunch spots in the city

If there's one thing I'm qualified to rank, it's Ottawa brunch 🍳🥞

I tried and ranked Costco's popular food court items — there is a clear #1

Wondering what gives you the most bang for your buck?