Farmers Movement Archive

Young protesters take to social media to counter propaganda

BATHINDA: In a bid to counter propaganda against farmers’ protest, a few youngsters have taken to the digital platform to reach out to people who cannot be part of the protests physically. The youngsters have prepared an “IT cell” to support the farmers’ struggle. Named the Kisan Ekta Morcha, it is active on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. For Twitter, they have used the hashtags, #Digitalkisan #Digitalkisanmorcha. Their previous hashtag, Tractor2Twitter, gained international popularity with people following it to keep abreast of the developments at Delhi borders. Farmer organisation Majha Kisan Sangharsh Committee vice-president Baljit Singh, who started the cell, said, “some propaganda was going on against the farmers’ struggle on various social media platforms. We wanted to counter it and on Wednesday, we started the cell for the purpose. We have 77 volunteers who will remain active digitally and check what is written or spoken about the farmers’ struggle on various platforms to counter it. Another motive for the IT cell was to involve all those sympathisers who could not physically support the struggle to contribute digitally. We have got massive response in only one day and we hope to take voice of the farmers strongly in the virtual world.” He said they will contact various farmers’ groups and help them operate various social media platforms so that they can counter propaganda describing them as Khalistanis and naxals.

The Times of India

2020-12-18

Amritsar