
Mumbai (Maharashtra), March 12, 2018 (TMC Desk) Bollywood celebrities like Riteish Deshmukh, Dia Mirza and Onir on Monday expressed support and respect for the farmers community as an estimated 35,000 peasants completed a 180-km march to Mumbai over six days to bring to the notice of the government the agrarian crisis gripping the state.
The group of peasants — men, women, youth and even seniors — abandoned their night’s rest, to march from the Somaiya Grounds, Vidyavihar, starting 2 a.m. (Monday) to reach the historic Azad Maidan at dawn, to avoid inconveniencing students appearing for the ongoing board examinations.
This gesture has been hailed by Bollywood celebrities, some of whom have saluted the spirit of the farmers and some of whom have commented on their plight with a pun.
Here’s what they said:
Riteish Deshmukh: Farmers walked 180 km, asking for the rightful compensation for their crop. On their last stretch they walked all night making sure they didn’t disturb the SSC board examinations. Compassion, respect, salute, Jai Kisan.
50,000 farmers walked 180kms, asking for the rightful compensation for their crop. On their last stretch they walked all night making sure they didn’t disturb the SSC board examinations. #Compassion #respect #Salute #JaiKisan – 🙏🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/epa0a90A6u
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) March 12, 2018
Dia Mirza: Our destinies are entwined. Our farmers grow our food. Their lives and livelihood are in peril because of climate change, exploitative middle men, lack of sustainable support. Stand by our farmers.
Our destinies are entwined. Our farmers grow our food. Their lives and livelihood are in peril because of climate change, exploitative middle men, lack of sustainable support. Stand by our farmers. #Farmers #KisanMarch #KisanLongMarch https://t.co/BDp5XJCUQw
— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) March 12, 2018
Onir: Respect Kisan Long March. These farmers have kindness far beyond most arrogant political rallies who don’t care about public inconvenience.
RESPECT #kisanlongmarch These Farmers have kindness far beyond most arrogant political rallies who dont care about public inconvenience .
Giant March Spares Students’ Exams As Farmers Protest In Mumbai https://t.co/vhQiNQFEir via @ndtv— Onir (@IamOnir) March 12, 2018
Prakash Raj: With blisters in the foot… hunger in their eyes, our farmers have walked seeking fairplay, dignity. This is the truth because of your lies and failed promises… Will you give them justice as they knock at your door… before they rise to knock you out #justasking.
With blisters in the foot.. hunger in their eyes our farmers have walked seeking #fairplay #dignity …this is the Truth because of your Lies and failed promises .. will you give them justice as they knock at your door… before they rise to knock you out #justasking pic.twitter.com/6lry7X0wz1
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) March 12, 2018
Siddhartha Basu: Not just the Maharashtra government, all of India needs to listen and respond positively to the acute distress of our farmers everywhere.
Not just the Maharashtra government, all of India needs to listen & respond positively to the acute distress of our farmers everywhere https://t.co/7ETJ9Bj9M1
— Siddhartha Basu (@babubasu) March 12, 2018
Shirish Kunder: As long as the farmers and soldiers are willing to die for us, respect? The moment they protest against any injustice, political agenda? We love docile cows!
As long as the farmers and soldiers are willing to die for us, RESPECT 🙏
The moment they protest against any injustice, POLITICAL AGENDA 😡
We love docile cows!#FarmersMarchToMumbai #FarmersMarch #KisanLongMarch #FarmersProtest #LongMarch #AzadMaidan
— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) March 12, 2018
Maria Goretti: My heart goes out to our farmers and their plight… my grandparents were farmers, I know how difficult this is.
My heart goes out to our farmers and their plight, my grandparents were farmers, I know how difficult this is .. https://t.co/aoiX56b0c2
— MariaGoretti (@mariagorettiz) March 12, 2018
Pritish Nandy: The Indian farmer is an amazing person. He is fighting a losing battle against nature, life and the state for years now. He deserves our respect and support. Not political cliches.
The Indian farmer is an amazing person. He is fighting a losing battle against nature, life and the State—for years now. He deserves our respect and support. Not political cliches. https://t.co/i5mWUz5y4z
— Pritish Nandy (@PritishNandy) March 12, 2018
Kunal Kemmu: I feel very emotional listening to the plight of the farmers and their stories. Walking barefoot and with bare necessities and still being as patient, calm and disciplined. I really hope we find a way to help end the prolonged ordeal of the backbone of this country – Jai Kisan!
I feel very emotional listening to the plight of the farmers and their stories. Walking barefoot and with bare necessities and still being as patient, calm and disciplined. I really hope we find a way to help end the prolonged ordeal of the backbone of this country – Jai Kisan!
— kunal kemmu (@kunalkemmu) March 12, 2018
Atul Kasbekar: Massive respect! Farmers in the mammoth agitation agreed to walk across the city at night so as to not inconvenience citizens, especially kids appearing for exams.
Massive respect!
Farmers in the mammoth agitation agreed to walk across the city at night so as to not inconvenience citizens esp kids appearing for exams.👍🏽🙏🏽
Here’s a sea of humanity passing my bldg at 3:30am
Lesson for politicians who visit Mumbai n create havoc pic.twitter.com/KVr5XiNZTL— atul kasbekar (@atulkasbekar) March 12, 2018
Abhishek Kapoor: Put yourself in the farmers’ shoes today. They’ve walked a very long way to be heard. Hope they get what they want cause it’s going to be a long and hard summer. Please don’t whine about traffic jams.
Put ur self in the farmers shoes today. They’ve walked a v long way to be heard. Hope they get what they want cause it’s gonna be a long and hard summer.. and pls don’t whine about traffic jams #KisanLongMarch
— Abhishek Kapoor (@Abhishekapoor) March 12, 2018
R. Madhavan: I totally and whole heartedly support this for all farmers in this nation. Let’s make that difference.
I totally and whole heartedly support this for all farmers in this Nation. ….LETS MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE ..
Walking 180 km, 35,000 Farmers Reach Mumbai For Debt Waiver, Fair Payhttps://t.co/78CMhwdJeK— Ranganathan Madhavan (@ActorMadhavan) March 11, 2018
Rahul Dholakia: Should write a film (that’s all what I can do) where the protagonist dupes the bank of thousands of crores and then he distributes the money to all the farmers to clear their debts and escapes abroad! And just imagine if the bank belonged to Netas! Farmers rock.
Should write a film ( that’s all what I can do) where the protagonist dupes the bank of Thousands of crores and and then he distributes the money to all the farmers to clear their debts and escapes abroad ! And just imagine if the Bank belonged to Netas ! #farmers rock !
— rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) March 11, 2018
Puri Jagan: Bhaiya gobhi kaise diye? – 20/kg — Bhaiya 15 ka laga do. Domino’s, 1 medium pizza. – Rs 285 — Rs 300. Keep the change. “Farmers are dying”
Bhaiya gobi kaise diye?
– ₹20/kg
Bhaiya 15 ka laga do.Dominos, 1 medium pizza.
– ₹285
₹300. Keep the change.“Farmers are dying”
— PURI JAGAN (@purijagan) March 11, 2018