Sachin Tendulkar is arguably the greatest batsman in history. (File) Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir voiced their opinions on the ongoing farmers’ protest on Wednesday, saying that “external forces can be spectators”.
Their comments came after the Ministry of External Affairs reacted sharply to tweets by pop star Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg on the protests.
Rihanna, who has 100 million followers on Twitter, on Tuesday posted, “Why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest,” linking a CNN report.
Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer in all formats of cricket, called for the country to remain united in times of distress. “India’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants. Indians know India and should decide for India. Let’s remain united as a nation,” he wrote on Twitter.
India’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants.
Indians know India and should decide for India. Let’s remain united as a nation.#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 3, 2021
His former dressing-room colleague and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir, said India will continue to thrive no matter what. “Outside forces have been trying to divide us, rule over us for centuries. But India remains & will thrive come what may! Use your billions, try your best! This is the New India,” he posted.
Outside forces have been trying to divide us, rule over us for centuries. But India remains & will thrive come what may! Use your billions, try your best! This is the New India 🇮🇳#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropoganda
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) February 3, 2021
Team India head coach Ravi Shastri and Royal Challengers Bangalore head coach Anil Kumble also voiced their opinions on the matter on Twitter.
Agriculture is a very important part of the machinery of the Indian economic system. Farmers are the backbone of any country’s ecosystem. This is an internal matter which I’m sure will be resolved through dialogue. Jai Hind! #IndiaStandsTogether #IndiaAgainstPropoganda 🇮🇳
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 3, 2021
As the world’s largest democracy, India is more than capable of taking her internal issues to amicable solutions. Onwards and upwards. #IndiaTogether#IndiaAgainstPropaganda
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) February 3, 2021
We as a country have issues to resolve today and will have issues to resolve tomorrow as well, but that doesn’t mean we create a divide or get perturbed by external forces. Everything can be resolved through amicable and unbiased dialogue. #IndiaAgainstPropaganda#IndiaTogether
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) February 3, 2021
Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha responded to Rihanna’s tweet.
“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,” he wrote on Twitter.
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!
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) February 2, 2021
Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points since November last year, demanding the government to repeal the three farm laws and legal guarantee of MSP for their crops.
Sites of the farmer protest at Delhi’s borders have turned into fortresses with the police beefing up security and putting up multi-layer barricades.