Mumbai: Will probe celebs tweets over farmers' protest, says Anil Deshmukh

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Monday said the state intelligence department will conduct a probe into allegations that some celebrities were pressurised recently to issue tweets in connection with the ongoing farmers protestDeshmukh made the remarks on an online platform after the Congress a ruling coalition partner in Maharashtra sought an investigation into the BJPs alleged connection with tweets of some celebrities and whether the saffron party armtwisted themMaharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant and some other party leaders on Monday raised the demand before Deshmukh in a meeting via video conference Deshmukh is currently in isolation as he recently tested positive for COVID19A number of prominent personalities including cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar recently rallied around the central government on social media using hashtags IndiaTogether and IndiaAgainstPropagandaThis came after tweets by American pop star Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg backing farmers who are protesting near Delhis border points against the Centres three new farm lawsAfter the virtual meeting with Deshmukh Sawant in a tweet said Demanded investigation of BJP connection into the tweets of celebrities amp security to be provided to our national heroes if needed amp find out whether these celebrities were armtwisted by BJPResponding to the demand Deshmukh said the objection of the Congress leaders is in connection with the timing of the tweets and whether they were issued under pressure Deshmukh noted that the tweets issued by badminton player Saina Nehwal and actor Akshay Kumar were similarThe Congresss question is whether they celebrities were forced to issue tweets of the same kind simultaneously the minister said You may have seen what kind of pressure is there on the media how a politician is threatened with ED or CBI probe if heshe speaks against the BJP We have all seen thisAs far as your objection about celebrities tweets is concerned we will definitely probe into those Our intelligence agency will probe it Deshmukh assuredLater in a tweet Deshmukh said during the video conference Sawant discussed this serious issue with him Despite being infected by COVID19 I gave him time because this issue is related to farmers I heard him out and assured to take action as per rules in this connection the minister saidMeanwhile addressing reporters here Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday accused the central government of pressurising celebrities like the underworld once used to doHe also asked celebrities to not fall prey to such alleged pressure tactics because they are youth icons Patole said there was a time when the underworld used to pressurise celebrities to behave in a certain wayBut the Narendra Modiled government is using celebrities to divert attention from the issues concerning farmers the poor unemployed and small industrialists he allegedThe BJP government is doing what the underworld used to do Patole charged saying it is not a matter of pride for the countryReplying to another question Patole who quit the post of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker last week said the Congress hopes that the new speaker is elected unopposed as is the traditionAfter quitting the Speakers post last week Patole was appointed as the state Congress chiefThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever