Even as the farmers’ protests underway at the border of Delhi show no signs of abatement, Twitter and other social media are rife with opinions of both the sides, one which is pro-reforms, and one which is against the three farm laws seeking to liberalise, and thus, revolutionise India’s agricultural sector. Celebrities, particularly from Punjab are leaving no stone unturned to rally in support of the farmers, and those from Haryana too are not far behind. As such, wrestler and gold medallist Babita Phogat, who is also a member of the BJP took to Twitter to give her two bits on the farmers’ protest.
Babita Phogat, while saying that the farmers’ protest has been hijacked by the ‘tukde-tukde gang’, added that Prime Minister Modi would never take any anti-farmer decision and would let nobody trample upon their rights. She also opined that the Congress party and Leftists can never have the best interests of farmers in mind and that they are simply milking the protests for their own benefit. Phogat also reinvigorated the SYL (Sutlej-Yamuna link canal) controversy raking the water dispute between Punjab and Haryana.
अब लगता है किसान आंदोलन को टुकड़े टुकड़े गैंग ने हाईजैक कर लिया है।सभी किसान भाइयों से हाथ जोड़कर विनती करती हूं कृपया करके अपने घर वापिस लौट जाएं।माननीय प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi जी कभी भी किसान भाइयों का हक नहीं मरने देंगे।कांग्रेसी और वामपंथी लोग किसान का भला कभी नहीं कर सकते
— Babita Phogat (Modi Ka Parivar) (@BabitaPhogat) December 14, 2020
SYL हरियाणा की जीवन रेखा है इसलिए पंजाब से अपील करती हूं हरियाणा के किसानों को उनके हिस्से का पानी जरूर दे।हरियाणा के किसान हितों का पंजाब को जरूर सोचना चाहिए।#सतलुज का फालतु #पानी कहीं भी जाये पर हरियाणा के किसान को नही देना ये कौन सी समझदारी है।#SYL_हरियाणा_के_किसानों_का_हक_है
— Babita Phogat (Modi Ka Parivar) (@BabitaPhogat) December 14, 2020
Soon, however, Babita’s cousin Vinesh Phogat took to Twitter to slam her sister without actually naming or tagging her. Vinesh Phogat, in a series of two tweets, said that sportspersons remain sportspersons in any field and that it is their right to do politics. However, according to her, while doing politics, such as sportspersons (Babita) should maintain dignity and respect with which they played for their country. She further added that sportspersons must not speak lowly, or in a cheap manner for those (farmers) who have helped make them what they are today.
उसी मान और सम्मान को बनाए रख़ें राजनीति में भी। उन लोगों की भावनाओं को कुछ तुच्छ बातें बोलकर आहत न करें जो खेलों के मैदान में एक खिलाड़ी को बनाने में हमेशा योगदान देते हैं..। 🙏🙏
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) December 15, 2020
It must be noted that Vinesh Phogat has been standing in support of the farmers from Punjab and Haryana for quite some time now, as opposed to her sister – Babita Phogat. Babita seems convinced that the farmers’ protest has been hijacked by the tukde-tukde gang. Babita Phogat has meanwhile not replied to, or commented on Vinesh Phogat’s opinion of her. Babita herself is facing intense pressure within Haryana to start speaking in favour of the protesting farmers, but she seems to be convinced that the Modi government’s new farm laws are in the best interest of farmers. Perhaps, India is lacking such influencers who exude the same confidence on any given issue, especially ones like these which require misinformation to be busted.