Why are farmers in India protesting and how is Rihanna involved?

Pop superstar Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg have tweeted their support to farmers protesting in India against new farm laws.

Their widely shared tweets have drawn global attention to the issue, racking up thousands of responses.

Tens of thousands of farmers have been protesting around India's capital city, Delhi, for the last three months.

They believe government reforms on farming laws are not in their best interests and will harm their business.

India's government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), says these changes are necessary to increase farm incomes and productivity.

The Indian government has also criticised celebrities using social media to comment on the protests saying that it is "neither accurate or responsible".

What's happened during the Indian farmers' protests?

People from all over the country are gathering in New Delhi to protest against new farming laws

Farmers in northern India have been protesting against the reforms since they were first introduced in September 2020.

People took to the streets back then, and they blocked motorways and railway tracks in different states.

Since then, tens of thousands of farmers have travelled to the capital, Delhi, to protest and there have been clashes with the police.

Lots of them have travelled from the states of Haryana and Punjab, which are areas that grow lots of food.

Farmers protesting have been camped out around Delhi for weeks

Recently, the Indian government suspended mobile internet services in three areas around Delhi, where farmers are camping during the protests.

The government said the shutdown was to "maintain public safety".

The protest made international headlines last week when a tractor rally by farmers ended in violent clashes that left one protester dead and more than 500 police injured, according to the authorities.

Tear gas was fired at protesters as police tried to reclaim the streets during a protest last week

Some demonstrators stormed Delhi's historic Red Fort and occupied it until police pushed them back.

Farmers' groups and union leaders condemned the violence but said they would not call off the protest.

What will India's new farming rules do?

More than half of Indians work on farms

The reforms look to change rules around selling, pricing and storage of farm produce - rules that have protected Indian farmers for decades.

Farmers are angry about three new farm bills, which the government said would change the way the agricultural industry works.

However, farmers say this was done without them being spoken to and they fear losing earnings and their protection over guaranteed prices.

Most farmers sell the majority of their produce at government-controlled markets for an assured price called the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Many farmers sell produce at large wholesale markets or mandis

They're worried that the changes will lead to the government removing MSP, leaving farmers in a difficult position

The BJP has denied this but farmers say there is no guarantee that it won't happen.

The new rules could allow private buyers to take over much of the market, allowing them to hold onto essential farming produce - only government agencies could do this before.

A big worry for farmers is that big businesses could take control over prices of their produce, which would eventually affect their income.

What has Rihanna and other celebrities said about the protests?

Rihanna's tweet on Tuesday linked to a news story about the internet shutdown at the protest sites.

The pop superstar's tweet to her 101 million followers sent her name to the top of social media trends in India, and drew a global outpouring of support.

Hours after Rihanna's tweet, Greta Thunberg also tweeted in support of the farmers.

"We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India," the teenager posted.

The farmers' protest is the biggest challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi has faced. His government has offered to suspend the laws but the farmers want them removed completely

But there were many who also criticised the singer for getting involved.

Actress Kangana Ranaut, a supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, tweeted: "No one is talking about it because they are not farmers, they are terrorists who are trying to divide India."

In a statement on Wednesday, India's external affairs ministry said parliament had passed new laws after a full debate and discussion.

"The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible," it added.

What are farmers saying?

Tens of thousands of farmers are protesting against new laws

Gurnam Singh Charuni, who is one of the main leaders of the protest said: "We will lose our lands, we will lose our income if you let big business decide prices and buy crops."

The government has said the system which guarantees farmers a certain price for their produce will continue, and they will not withdraw the MSP they currently offer - but farmers are suspicious.

"First, farmers will feel attracted towards these private players, who will offer a better price for the produce. The government mandis will pack up meanwhile and after a few years, these players will start exploiting the farmers. That's what we fear," Multan Singh Rana, a farmer in the northern state of Punjab, told BBC Punjabi last year.

There have been lots of talks between the farmers and the government but so far they have not managed to agree.