New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday appeared to refer to the farmers’ protest toolkit tweeted by environmental activist Greta Thunberg earlier this week as he addressed an event in poll-bound Assam.
People who are conspiring to defame India have “stooped so low that they are not sparing even Indian tea”, Modi said, in an apparent reference to the toolkit Thunberg tweeted to mobilise support for the farmer protest.
This toolkit — drafted, she claimed, by people on the ground — was later deleted by Thunberg who subsequently put up an updated version.
Among other things, the first toolkit reportedly had a point that read “Disrupt yoga and chai image of India in general”.
The toolkit was tweeted as Thunberg vowed support for the farmers’ protest in India. She is one of several foreign celebrities who have taken to social media to highlight the protests, a campaign that has been criticised by the Indian government as the handiwork of “vested interest groups trying to derail the process & protests by enforcing their agenda”.
It is unfortunate to see vested interest groups trying to derail the process & protests by enforcing their agenda. We saw this on Republic Day & are seeing it again when some public figures are making statements without ascertaining facts & proper understanding of issues.
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) February 3, 2021
The Delhi Police has registered a case against unknown persons in connection with the toolkit, invoking sections for sedition, criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity between religions, and provocation with intent to cause a riot.
Also Read: Canada firm, MP, PR person suspected for farmers protest toolkit tweeted by Greta Thunberg
Bid to ‘tarnish India’s image’
Assam, which is the largest contiguous tea-growing region in the world, is one of five states/union territories headed for assembly elections in coming months. Modi was in Assam Sunday to launch the Asom Mala project, which is aimed at bolstering the state’s road infrastructure.
“Some foreign powers are planning to tarnish the image of India’s tea,” Modi said in Assam. “These conspirators are vowing to malign the image of Indian tea in a systematic manner across the world.”
People who are conspiring to defame India have stooped so low that they are not sparing even Indian tea. You must have heard in news that these conspirators are vowing to malign the image of Indian tea in a systematic manner across the world: PM Narendra Modi in Assam's Sonitpur pic.twitter.com/SRVJy5Okep
— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2021
“Some documents that have come up reveal that some foreign powers are planning to attack India’s image associated with tea,” he said.
Some documents that have come up reveal that some foreign powers are planning to attack India's image associated with tea. Will you accept this attack? You will accept the people involved in this attack? Will you accept those praising these attackers?: PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/QJSnHy3NI9
— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2021
“Will you accept this attack? Will you accept the people involved in this attack? Will you accept those praising these attackers?” Modi added.
He made similar remarks once again later in the day when he addressed a rally in Haldia, West Bengal, another poll-bound state.
Also Read: Didn’t pay Rihanna, Greta Thunberg or others to tweet on farm protests — Canada firm PJF
Great to see so many people, care so much, for the plight of so many farmers; yet, while these bills are yet to take effect, for many years now, despite govt subsidies, free electricity, loan waivers etc., thousands of farmers have been living in penury, with many thousands even committing suicide. So, how come, these so-caring people, in the same spirit as their support for the farmers’ protests, how come they have not seen fit to create a fund to help these poor farmers overcome their desperate economic bind???
Modi has damaged India’s reputation on his own with the way he and the BJP govern. No one outside the country could even come close to the damage he and his party have done!
Lot of these foreign celebrities are taking great interest on India lately. No celebrity talks or tweets or comments about origin of Corona virus, Genocide by China over their minorities.
This latest campaign feels same like the “award wapasi” campaign gone international. Some more time and it will die on its own and BJP will win the next election. This will go on and on, communists and confused liberals give no solution, they specialize in protests, media circus and are an amusement to watch
Ban Twitter & Facebook. Dorsey & FB have made it clear that they are above Indian law and government.
The Next-generation artificial intelligence will be created by the current data collectors. India should allow its homegrown companies to flourish and collect data, so they can succeed like China.
Another “Chowkidat chor hai” moment for Modi. A small misstep and leave it to Modi to make a grand spectacle out of it, This is what the anti-Modi brigade does not understand, he has a strong ground connect with the people. They worship him like the way people used to worship Indira. Personal attacks on Modi will only strengthen him.
Congress has a very bright future – Pappu is now taking advice from Mia Khalifa.
You talk as if the past is dark or shady.
The day is not far when the Indian Marxists and leftists of all hues will be exterminated like the termites that they have become – eating away the very house that shelters them.
BJP’s and Modijis favourite campaign style. Polarising, blame others, act as if we are being persecuted, foreign hand. When will he talk about what he has done? if the opposition got its act together, the humungous amount of taxes on petrol prices which makes India the country to have the highest petrol prices should be enough to sink the BJP.
Dont try to pass the blame on others if of your piles bleed while cycling.
What an insecure petty little coward you are NM. Don’t have the guts to talk about China or even name China while they occupy our land. But a teenage girl puts out a tweet and entire BJP join together to show their strength.
Nehru constantly harped about china & gave away ” YOUR LAND ” in more units of Km than your imbecility which is evident from your sexualising ugly old hags in dreams instead of embracing the reality.
does that mean modi can do the same?