| |
|---|
News Desk: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has said the state government agencies would probe whether celebrities such as retired cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Akshay Kumar and shuttler Saina Nehwal have posted messages on Twitter on the issues arising out of protest against three farm laws under any pressure.
Anil Deshmukh and his Congress colleague Sachin Sawant have alleged that celebrities tweeting on the farmers’ agitation in response to international pop icon Rihanna’s tweet are doing so under pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Anil Deshmukh questioned how Bollywood actors and other renowned personalities are posting identical tweets.
He said, “On January 26, the scene changed all of a sudden. There were efforts made to discredit the farmers’ agitation. Farmers were holding a peaceful agitation and now things are slowly coming out on how a conspiracy was being hatched to malign them.”
“Are these tweets posted under some pressure? Were they forced to do the same? Our intelligence agencies will look into it. How are the tweets of Akshay Kumar and Saina Nehwal the same? This will be looked into. Suniel Shetty’s tweet, wherein a BJP leader is tagged, is before us as well. And, the matter will now be investigated,” said Anil Deshmukh.
Anil Deshmukh, who is currently in quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19, joined a video-call meeting from the hospital bed to attend a session organised by Mumbai Congress leader Sachin Sawant.
Sawant alleged that many Bollywood celebrities and known personalities, including Indian cricketers, who were tweeting identical messages on the farmers’ agitation are doing so under the pressure of the BJP.
Sachin Sawant said the BJP had created a dangerous situation in recent times. With reference to the farmers’ agitation, the Congress leader said the BJP had acted in a total undemocratic fashion which has worried everyone.
Referring to a recent tweet from international star Rihanna, who had commented on the farmer’s agitation, Sachin Sawant alleged that in order to save its image, the BJP initiated a tweet drive by pressurising many known personalities.
Sachin Sawant said the BJP had given a script to all these people to emulate.
“Akshay Kumar and Saina Nehwal had the same tweet and we suspect that the BJP is behind it. Suniel Shetty had tagged a BJP leader as well and this completely exposed the role of the BJP. The party has a role in the BCCI as well and hence probably some cricketers also tweeted on the said directions,” Sachin Sawant said.
Sachin Sawant further said if these personalities are under pressure, then they need to be given protection by the state.
There was a time when the underworld pressurised Bollywood personalities, said Sachin Sawan adding, “But now, the meaning of such pressure has changed completely in the present times. It seems that there is pressure on the players from the BCCI. There is pressure on Bollywood as well and this needs to be investigated as well.”
“Orders need to be given for investigation. And, it needs to be found out who is putting pressure on the personalities,” Sachin Sawant said.
BJP leader Ram Kadam soon hit back at the Congress saying the party disrespected the legends such as Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar. “They should apologise and the [Maharashtra] government should withdraw the decision to probe these celebrities over their tweets,” Ram Kadam said.
