Disha Ravi Activist Arrested : A 21-year-old activist from Bengaluru was arrested today for allegedly being part of those who distributed the Greta Thunberg 'tool kit' that contained ways to support the protests with Indian farmers. Disha Ravi is one of the founders of Fridays for Future, that deeply covers Swedish climate activist, Thunberg's work. The police has alleged that Disha Ravi was trying to recreate Khalistan Group. In her defence Ravi says she only help edit two lines in the toolkit.
Disha Ravi was arrested by Delhi Police and here are visuals of the same below. Disha Ravi broke down in court room and reportedly told judge that she had merely edited two lines in the toolkit and was supporting farmers. The police claims the Greta Thunberg toolkit was meant to "wage economic, social, cultural and regional war against India.” In relation to the same, Disha Ravi was arrested.
Activists across the world are sharing on social media #freedisharavi hashtagm contesting that she was not creating a pro Khalistani movement. Many are saying it's normal for young people to come together and jointly edit documents in the digital space.
Lawyer Colin Gonsalves said for the police to arrest her on sedition charges, requires to be 'involved in a violent act. Speaking to a news channel, he criticised the arrest of Ravi. Some are also raising the question that if Greta Thunberg was creating the toolkit, is it fair to arrest someone like Ravi who only edited the document?
The Delhi police has arrested Ravi for questioning from her residence regarding the ‘toolkit’ to build momentum against India’s farmers protest. “If you go by the unfolding of events of January 26, it reveals a copycat execution of the action plan,” the Delhi Police had said as per a report. “The call was to wage economic, social, cultural and regional war against India,” Delhi Police Special Commissioner Praveer Ranjan had said.
Disha's mother Manjula Ravi refused to speak to the media following the activist's arrest. "We know what's happening. We don't want to speak to the media at this juncture," she said.
According to NDTV, Ravi had no legal counsel on being produced in the court on February 14, from where she was sent to custody for five days. As per her legal team, Ravi's lawyers were not aware as to which court she would be produced in and thus she argued her own case.
"Deeply disappointed by the conduct of the duty magistrate...who remanded a young woman to five days in police custody, without first ensuring that she was being represented by counsel," said lawyer Rebecca John in a social media post.
Social media came out to question her arrest. Poet Rupi Kaur said on Twitter, "disha ravi, a 21-year-old climate activist, has been arrested by delhi police for sharing a toolkit @GretaThunberg posted in support of the #farmersprotest. disha’s arrest is alarming and the world needs to pay attention. #freedisharavi"
"This makes India look so weak... India activist Disha Ravi arrested over 'toolkit' - BBC News noted as they reported on Disha Ravi's arrest.
Recently India's courts said the right to protest and express dissent comes with certain duties and cannot be held "anytime and everywhere". The Supreme Court noted so in an order, dismissing a review petition on the anti-citizenship law protests held in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh in 2019.
/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/iUYfaBbcMozaYLoGnoov.png)
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/post_banners/gWoaVkzNd5w53VnArzkb.jpg)