Demanding the immediate release of Disha Ravi, who was arrested in “toolkit” document case and has been sent for five days of police custody, several social activists and environmentalists have asked the government to stop targeting India’s youth. Several activists and environmentalists have condemned the arrest.
Kavita Krishnan, the secretary of All India Progressive Women's Association, said people like Ravi are India's best hope because they are more concerned about the future generations and the people. "We are not behaving like a democracy right now. If we are going to equate protest with conspiracy and organising protests as conspiracy, then you are not a democracy anymore," she said.
"They should immediately drop this case based upon absolutely flimsy, ridiculous, and evil pretext. A toolkit is not sedition, it is not a conspiracy, the toolkit is for protest," she added.
Disha was arrested from Bengaluru on Saturday and was brought to Delhi for her involvement in editing the toolkit document relating to farmers protest. The alleged toolkit was shared with Greta Thunberg which cause a massive stir on social media. Disha is a graduate in Bachelor of Business Administration, and also one of the founding members of a group named 'Fridays For Future India', police informed.
The Delhi Police claimed that Ravi was an editor of the "toolkit Google doc" and "key conspirator" in the document's formulation and dissemination. However, she has refuted the claims.
Rights activist Shabnam Hashmi also questioned the base of Disha’s arrest, stating even a local campaign prepares a toolkit. "We should look at the prime minister's campaign toolkit. We are crossing the limits of absurdity. We will become a laughing stock internationally," she said.
Head of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, Sunita Narain supported the young activist, she tweeted, "We know #climatechange is an existential threat. The world desperately needs the passion and commitment of the youth and their loud and strong voice to shake it to more action #FreeDishaRavi.”
Nine-year-old climate activist Licypriya Kangujam called it an attempt to silence the voices of young girls and women in the country, but this won’t stop the people from fighting.
Over 50 academics, artists, and activists in a joint statement asserted their support for Ravi, calling her arrest as “disturbing,” “illegal in nature" and an "overreaction of the State”. The statement issued under the banner of 'Coalition for Environmental Justice in India' also called the arrest an effort to distract the public and divide opinions.
The joint statement read, "It is also becoming increasingly clear that the current actions of the central government are diversionary tactics to distract people from real issues like the ever-rising cost of fuel and essential items, widespread unemployment and distress caused due to the lockdown without a plan, and the alarming state of the environment.”
A group has also started an online petition for Disha’s release.
Also Read: Kanhaiya Kumar tweets on Disha Ravi’s arrest, says “unke bacche BCCI president banenge aur aapke?”
The incident will demotivate climate activists, said Environmentalist Vikrant Tongad.
The “toolkit” was shared by Swedish teen climate activist to extend support to the protesting Indian farmers, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws. The document had hinted at various urgent actions, including creating a Twitter storm and protesting outside Indian embassies, which were listed which needed to be taken to support the farmers' protest.