On Monday, February 8, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has ordered the state intelligence department to conduct a probe into allegations that some celebrities were pressurised recently to issue tweets in connection with the ongoing farmers' protest.
This development came after the Congress, a ruling coalition partner in Maharashtra, sought an investigation into the matter. It also alleged BJP's connection as tweets of some celebrities like Akshay Kumar and Saina Nehwal were identical and may have been under duress and that words like ‘amicable’ were used in most tweets indicating they were provided a script by the BJP.
Moreover, it also sought that protection be provided to these celebrities from the BJP if the need arises.
The decision was taken in a 28-minute virtual meeting between Deshmukh and Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant. Deshmukh, who is under quarantine after he tested positive for COVID earlier this week, said, "Based on the issue raised by the Congress party, I have asked the SID… to conduct an inquiry in the matter. They have been asked to check if the celebrities were under any pressure to tweet particular things by the central government.”
He added, “India our celebrities from different fields like Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar, Akshay Kumar also tweeted and we don’t know if it is their personal thought or if it is under some pressure.”
Apart from that, last week, in the wake of tweets by foreign celebrities such as singer Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg, who tweeted in support of the farmers’ protests in India, Indian celebrities from various fields, including Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar and several Bollywood stars, had tweeted using hashtags #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropoganda.
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