Giving a morale boost to farmers, several Indian celebrities have been expressing their support and have joined them in protesting against the new farm laws enacted in the country.
Calling farmers "India's Food Soldiers", Quantico star Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who has always been vocal about human rights, shared a post by singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh and wrote, "Their fears need to be allayed. Their hopes need to be met".
Our farmers are India's Food Soldiers. Their fears need to be allayed. Their hopes need to be met. As a thriving democracy, we must ensure that this crises is resolved sooner than later. https://t.co/PDOD0AIeFv
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) December 6, 2020
Looking at the farmers protesting in cold weather for the past few weeks on Delhi's borders, singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, who joined the protest a few days ago at the Singhu border in Delhi, quietly donated INR 10 million ($135,800) to arrange for warm clothes for them.
Today, legendary Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan was spotted with thousands of protesting farmers at the Singhu border.
Lending her support to the nation's farmers, Bollywood actress Richa Chadha in a tweet said, "India has been facing an agrarian crisis for the past two decades, 12,000 farmers commit suicide every year, that's over 30 per day! And yet, this is the biggest protest by people who put food on our plates".
She further commented, "Next time you shop for vegetables, don't wonder why the prices for vegetables are constantly rising. India is still an agrarian economy. It's not just a 'farmer’s issue'. Everything is connected".
Next time you shop for vegetables, (which u will soon irrespective of where u live or how much meat/fish u eat), don’t wonder why the prices for vegetables are constantly rising. India is still an agrarian economy. It’s not just a ‘farmer’s issue’. Everything is connected. https://t.co/8CAF9xcsIs
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) November 27, 2020
Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor shared shocking visuals from the farmers' protest on Instagram with a famous quote by the late American lawyer Daniel Webster which read: "When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilisation".
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My heart goes out 2the farmers & their families protesting in the cold in this pandemic.They are the soldiers of the soil that keep our country going.I sincerely hope the talks between the farmers & govt yield positive results soon & all is resolved. #Farmerprotests #Rabrakha 🙏 pic.twitter.com/b7eW8p8N3P
— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) December 6, 2020
Actor Sonu Sood, who earned massive public admiration for helping a huge number of migrants during the national lockdown, too tweeted in Hindi to convey: "We exist because farmers exist".
किसान है .. तो हम हैं।
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) December 7, 2020
While Punjabi singer Mika Singh requested that farmers keep calm and protest, Harbhajan Mann created a new song talking about the plight of farmers.
ਕੱਢ ਕੇ ਮੁੜਾਂਗੇ ਤੇਰਾ ਸ਼ੱਕ ਦਿੱਲੀਏ
— Harbhajan Mann (@harbhajanmann) December 7, 2020
ਮੁੜਦੇ ਨੀ ਲਏ ਬਿਨਾ ਹੱਕ ਦਿੱਲੀਏ।
हैरान हूँ
परेशान हूँ
दर बदर ठोकर खा कर भी
खड़ा रहने वाला चटान हूँ
हालातों से जो हार ना माने
मैं वो इन्सान हूँ
हां मैं किसान हूँhttps://t.co/oZu3Qcfr1b#8_दिसंबर_भारत_बन्द#TakeBackFarmLaws#IndiaSupportFarmerProtest pic.twitter.com/FWgdYCjpJS
I request all the #farmer brothers please keep calm and protest , I don’t want some one else do the mistake and then we face the repercussions as a class of farmers ... I’m sure #government will give us the solution.. but please sare shanti hi bana ke rakho ... sat sri Akal.. pic.twitter.com/q4b9ZQpXeW
— King Mika Singh (@MikaSingh) December 8, 2020
Many other celebs such as Riteish Deshmukh, Hansal Mehta, Onir, Gauahar Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Swara Bhasker, Ammy Virk, Deep Sidhu, and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub have been constantly tweeting on the issue.
No farmers = Barren land ! Our land is a Blessed one , so should be OUR Farmers’ lives !!!! Requesting the government to understand their issues and favour them ! 🙏🏻💛
— Gauahar Khan (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) December 6, 2020
If you eat today, thank a farmer.
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) December 5, 2020
I stand in solidarity with every farmer in our country. #JaiKisaan
India has failed to see the value of our Dear #Farmers 😔 Battling with the ones who put a meal on our plate is just very heartbreaking to see. They need to be given what they deserve, as they are the soul of our nation. 🇮🇳🧑🏽🌾#JaiJawaanJaiKisaan #Tractor2Twitter #ISupportFarmers
— Rashami Desai (@TheRashamiDesai) December 8, 2020
Singer Gippy Grewal in his tweet criticised many big Bollywood actors for remaining silent on this burning issue.
Dear Bollywood,
— Gippy Grewal (@GippyGrewal) December 5, 2020
Every now and then your movies have been shot in Punjab & everytime you have been welcomed with open heart. But today when Punjab needs u the most, u didn't show up and speak a word. #DISAPPOINTED #8_दिसंबर_भारत_बन्द#TakeBackFarmLaws#FarmersAreLifeline
Farmers, mainly from the agricultural states of Punjab and Haryana, are up in arms against new farm laws due to the exclusion of the state's minimum support price (MSP) mechanism. The farmers are demanding that the government repeal the laws, as they don't contain a provision for the MSP – the minimum price at which the state governments are obliged to procure produce from farmers.
India's key opposition party Congress and various other political parties also supported today's call by farm unions for a national shutdown against the Narendra Modi-led government.
