Farmers Movement Archive

‘Tractor to Twitter’: Agri protest gets online push for Punjab farmers

JALANDHAR: Some netizens have taken to the virtual world to back the farmers’ protest against the farm laws. Punjabi singers, a former MP and some social media influencers are among those mobilising support for farmers on Twitter by running a campaign with hashtags, while some others have formed a WhatsApp group to organise support on Twitter. “We will bring 25,000 new users on Twitter for Punjab to reply to propaganda machinery of BJP Govt. Difference is, ours will be real people,” posted Ludhiana-based Bhavjit Singh. Dr Amandeep Singh Bains along with some friends launched “Tractor2Twitr” campaign. Former MP Dharamvira Gandhi posted “an important message to Punjab social media activists” on his FB page, asking all Punjabis across religions, castes, trades and professions to come forward to counter and defeat the BJP’s “troll army’s” propaganda. “Most of Punjabi netizens either post in Punjabi or English, but Hindi audience has been just audience. I have started in Hindi as most of the propaganda against Punjabi farmers’ agitation is happening in Hindi,” he said. A hashtag “istandwithfarmerschallenge” was also started on Sunday. Singer-actor Amrinder Gill also issued an appeal in Punjabi, asking netizens to join Twitter “to spread the message of Punjabi farmers’ struggle and Baba Nanak’s message of universality to the world”. Singer-actors Diljit Dosanjh and Gippy Grewal also asked people to run hashtags in farmers’ support. BOX: SC lawyers back agitationA group of Supreme Court lawyers led by senior advocates H S Phoolka and Rajiv Khosla have conveyed they are with farmers. Demanding that cases against farmers be withdrawn, Phoolka said lawyers would extend support, including fighting their cases, without any fee. Advocate Khosla said Delhi Bar Council will hold a meet on Dec 4

The Times of India

2020-11-30

Ludhiana