New Delhi: As two controversial farm bills were passed in Rajya Sabha amidst protests by the Opposition, and alleged ‘muting’ of the video proceedings Sunday, Twitter became a war-zone with BJP and opposition parties refusing to back off from their respective stands.
And then there’s the matter of sexual misconduct allegations against director Anurag Kashyap…
Home Minister Amit Shah manages to lambast Congress and praise PM Modi as the ‘savior’ of Indian farmers, at the same time.
दशकों तक किसानों के वोट लेकर उन्हें अंधकार और गरीबी में रखने वाले लोग आज फिर किसानों के हित के सबसे बड़े निर्णय का विरोध कर उन्हें भड़काने व गुमराह करने का प्रयास कर रहे हैं।
मैं किसान भाइयों को विश्वास दिलाता हूँ कि आपके हितों के लिए अगर कोई सोचता है तो वो @narendramodi जी हैं।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 20, 2020
Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh posts a video that shows how badly the Opposition behaved in Parliament during the passage of the farm laws.
ये हमला सिर्फ बिहार के बेटे पे ही नहीं, ये हमला है देश के संवैधानिक पद राज्य सभा के उपसभापति श्री हरिवंश नारायण जी पर , अब आप निर्णय करें ये ‘लोकतंत्र’ है या ‘गुंडातंत्र’ , जो राज्य सभा में अशोभनीय व्यवहार हुआ है उसे ना बिहार माफ करेगा ना देश ! pic.twitter.com/jWlONQH0Ga
— Shandilya Giriraj Singh (@girirajsinghbjp) September 20, 2020
However, TMC MP Derek O’ Brien’s video testimonial on what transpired in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, tells a very different story.
Around 1pm on Sunday September 20, the government murdered parliamentary democracy. They broke every rule of #Parliament.
Did they hope that the opposition would just sit and watch?
Here's a 9 min video. pic.twitter.com/HMZbFiSXpo
— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) September 20, 2020
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee wonders about the state of Indian democracy.
Suspension of the 8 MPs who fought to protect farmers interests is unfortunate & reflective of this autocratic Govt’s mindset that doesn’t respect democratic norms & principles. We won't bow down & we'll fight this fascist Govt in Parliament & on the streets.#BJPKilledDemocracy
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 21, 2020
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram criticises the nitty-gritties of the laws.
There will be millions of private transactions every day in thousands of villages all over India. How will the government guarantee MSP is paid in these transactions?
Under which law is a private purchaser obliged to pay MSP to the farmer in a private transaction?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 21, 2020
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya is not impressed by the ‘logic’ of the former Finance Minister.
This man was once India’s FM…
Isn’t it common sense that if the price that a farmer gets in the market is less than the MSP, he will take the MSP route?
If he however receives more in the market, he will sell directly…
Earlier he didn’t have the option to sell directly! https://t.co/H95RDjuS4u
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 21, 2020
Congress’ deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi takes a swipe at the “Emperor” of the country.
I condemn the suspension of RS MPs whose only demand was for the anti-farmer bill to be sent to the Parliament Select Committee. The BJP Government could have conceded to this legitimate demand. But the Emperor’s image and ego has to be protected. Even at the cost of democracy.
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) September 21, 2020
But actor Anupam Kher celebrates the new laws using a historical nugget from Hindi cinema.
ये सीन मेरी फ़िल्म “जीने दो” से है जिसे #RajeshSethi ने direct किया था।1990 में बनी इस फ़िल्म में किसान कैसे exploit हो रहे थे ये दिखाया गया था।अब जो बिल पास हुआ है उससे किसानों को वो फ़ायदा होगा जो बहुत साल पहले होना चाहिए था। चलिए! अब किसानों के दिन बदल गए।जय हो! @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/6gnvXaLduX
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) September 21, 2020
Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia also has something to say about AAP MLA Sanjay Singh’s protest in Rajya Sabha.
ये सिर्फ़ आदमी पार्टी के सांसद संजय सिंह नहीं बल्कि देश के किसान की आवाज़ है जो आने वाले वक्त में तानाशाही को वाक़ई मुर्दाबाद करके दिखाएगी. https://t.co/I29GVw0qrc
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) September 20, 2020
Former diplomat K. C Singh wants to know the whereabouts of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi—don’t we all?
Cong needs to ask itself, isn’t this where Rahul Gandhi should have been? His absence at an inflexion point for farmers defines who he can’t be – a mass leader. https://t.co/QWeVUBuRxs
— K. C. Singh (@ambkcsingh) September 20, 2020
Well, he may be missing in action but he’s active, as always, on Twitter.
’Muting Of Democratic India’ continues: by initially silencing and later, suspending MPs in the Parliament & turning a blind eye to farmers’ concerns on the black agriculture laws.
This ‘omniscient’ Govt’s endless arrogance has brought economic disaster for the entire country.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 21, 2020
Singer Gurdas Maan shares a photograph to remind you what farmers’ lives and livelihood should mean for all of us.
Kisaan hai, teh Hindustaan hai ?? Sarbat Da bhala hovey pic.twitter.com/EzJ4IINGmq
— Gurdas Maan (@gurdasmaan) September 19, 2020
Onto Anurag Kashyap, here’s actor Kalki Koechlin in defence of her ex-husband, who was accused by actor Payal Ghosh of sexual misconduct.
ट्रोल्स tho ट्रॉल करेंगें pic.twitter.com/tMl7GlRU6o
— Kalki केकला (@kalkikanmani) September 21, 2020
Thappad star Taapsee Pannu also speaks up for the filmmaker.
For you, my friend , are the biggest feminist I know.
See you on the sets soon of yet another piece of art that shows how powerful and significant women are in the world you create 🙂 ? https://t.co/M9AgMDHTPH
— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) September 20, 2020
Actor Tisca Chopra on Kashyap and his “worldview on women”.
To know my friend @anuragkashyap72 is to know generosity, honesty and decency at its core .. even a cursory look at his work reveals his worldview on women .. don’t know a bigger supporter of talent, men or women ..
— Tisca Chopra (@tiscatime) September 20, 2020
Writer-producer Nikhil Taneja has some harsh words for the media ruckus around Kashyap.
What's happening to AK is the most blatant, obvious, agenda-driven hitjob. Literally within the first few seconds of the tweet tagged to our PM, an online mob amplified it relentlessly. This is the cost of speaking truth to power in India, and it's a horrible & horrifying thing.
— Nikhil Taneja (@tanejamainhoon) September 20, 2020