Police in India Thursday filed a criminal case against what it claimed "an overseas conspiracy" to defame the country in the wake of recent tweets by global celebrities like pop star Rihanna and teen climate activist Greta Thunberg in support of the protests around the national capital by farmers against three controversial farm laws.

From the state of Punjab in the north to Karnataka in the south, farmers across India intensified their protests on Monday against the "pro-corporate" reforms in the agricultural sector.