Disha Ravi’s Arrest; netizens demand her release
Disha Ravi, a 22-year-old climate activist, on Sunday was arrested by the Cyber Cell team of Delhi Police from Bengaluru for reportedly sharing with Greta Thunberg the ‘toolkit’ related to the farmer’s protest against the Centre’s three farm laws, which sent her to five days’ police custody.
A lawyer who knew the developments told that Ravi’s family had not been given any details when she was taken away – not even whether she was being arrested or detained for questioning. In court, the public prosecutor alleged that the young woman was part of a Khalistani conspiracy, which the activist vehemently denied. “I supported farmers because they are our future and we all need to eat”, she said while breaking down. Ravi also mentioned that she wasn’t the one who wrote the toolkit, but simply made two edits to it. This “toolkit” – which the police claims is part of a conspiracy – was in fact a collection of articles, social media handles and information on the farmers’ protest, for anyone wanting to learn about the issue and spread the message.
A “Protest toolkit” is something which protestors have been using worldwide for Black Lives Matter and Climate Change Protest etc. A toolkit’s main aim is to allow anyone unfamiliar with a “cause” to better understand the situation and make decisions on how to support the “cause” based on their own analysis. A toolkit is something that cant be leaked because it is available for everyone to see online in a public domain.
Social media is now filled with tweets and posts asking for the release of Disha Ravi from jail using the hashtags like #ReleaseDishaRavi, #DishaRavi and #freeDishaRavi
A friend of #DishaRavi I just spoke to: "Her arrest is a scare tactic, saying, 'What will you do? You're just a kid.' Disha IS just a kid, but see the work she's been doing since 19! We're scared but the larger fight is against #ClimateChange. Without farmers, there is no future"
— Rohini Mohan (@rohini_mohan) February 14, 2021
DishaRavi's arrest is the latest escalation in India’s crackdown on free expression&political dissent as it seeks2stifle the farmers’ mass protests, says the @dailytelegraph UK. Doesn’t GoI care about the damage it’s doing to its own global image? https://t.co/TILH9XKYkg
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 14, 2021
Standing unconditionally in solidarity and support with #DishaRavi. I'm so sorry this happened to you sister. We are all with you. Stay strong. This injustice too shall pass. #shameondelhipolice
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) February 14, 2021
Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subjected to copyright
