India / Study the farm laws before forming opinion: Athawale on Rihanna's tweet

After pop singer Rihanna on Tuesday tweeted on farmers' protest, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said, "Be it Rihanna or anyone else from the industry, they should study the farm laws first before forming an opinion." He further said, "I think it is a personal choice for anyone to support or not support whatever they like."

Vikrant Shekhawat : Feb 04, 2021, 08:00 AM
New Delhi: After international pop star Rihanna tweeted on farmers' protest, Rajya Sabha MP Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday said people who are supporting the agitation should form an opinion after studying new farm laws.

"I think it is a personal choice for anyone to support or not support whatever they like, but be it Rihanna or anyone else from the industry, they should study the farm laws first before forming an opinion," Athawale told ANI when asked to comment on farmers' protest.

The Member of Parliament further added that it is not good to oppose the law without even knowing whether it is for the good of farmers or not.

On Tuesday, Rihanna had taken to her Twitter handle and shared a news story by CNN on the internet shutdown in several districts of Delhi's neighbouring state Haryana after protestors broke barricades to enter New Delhi and clashed with police in several parts of the national capital during the January 26 'tractor rally' protest organised by farmers. The protestors also entered the iconic Mughal Era monument Red Fort and unfurled their flags from its ramparts.

"Why aren't we talking about this?!", wrote Rihanna, as she added the hashtag #FarmersProtest along with the post on the micro-blogging site.

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws - Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.