Delhi police confirmed the arrest of Disha Ravi, who is in her early twenties, in a tweet on Sunday, accusing her of being an ‘important conspirator in the formulation and distribution of the document’.
Tens of thousands of farmers have been protesting for months against new agricultural laws, which they say will destroy their livelihoods.
The toolkit commands people to call government representatives, share solidarity httags on social media, attend rallies and sign petitions. It gained visibility after Thunberg tweeted a link to it on February 4 attributing “people on the ground in India”.
The move appears to anger Indian authorities. The same day, the police in Delhi announced that they have instituted a criminal investigation into the creators of the toolkit and they would like to be accused of rioting, provoking a riot or inciting or inciting criminal conspiracy.
“In this document there is an action plan (that) on or after January 26 a digital strike and a tweet storm will take place and also physical action on January 26,” Special Commissioner Praveer Ranjan said at a news conference on February 4. . . “Using this toolkit, people have been informed (how to enter and leave Delhi).”
It is not yet clear if Ravi has been charged, what sentence she could be imposed or when her next trial will be. There are no publicly available court documents on her case. CNN has released police in Delhi to provide more information.
“Disha is a dedicated climate activist,” said one volunteer in the Indian chapter of Fridays For Future, a global climate activist group founded by Thunberg. “It was difficult to turn my head yesterday when I heard about (her arrest). I was shocked. ‘
The volunteer did not want to be named because of safety. “It leads to a lot of caution,” she said. “We ask for a viable future … That’s our right.”
The farmers’ protests
The protests revolve around three new farming laws, which farmers say could hurt their income.
Under the previous legislation, farmers had to sell their goods at an auction at the Committee for Agricultural Products in their state, where they were guaranteed to receive at least the minimum price agreed by the government. There were restrictions on who could buy, and prices were limited for essential products.
The new laws dismantled this committee structure and allowed farmers to sell their goods to anyone at any price.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi argued that the reforms would modernize the agricultural industry, while giving farmers more freedom to do things like sell directly to buyers or other states without a middleman.
But many farmers say the changes will enable large businesses to lower prices. While farmers can sell crops at higher prices if demand is there, they can conversely struggle to meet the minimum price in years when there is too much supply.
Thunberg is not the only recognizable name who has spoken about the protests – international celebrities, including singer Rihanna and NBA player Kyle Kuzma, have also supported the farmers.
The Indian government has focused the attention of the celebrity and criticized those who provide online support for farmers.
“Before attempting to comment on such matters, we urge that the facts be established and that a proper understanding of the matters be undertaken,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on February 3. hashtags and comments on social media, especially not by celebrities and others, are neither accurate nor responsible. ‘
Some activists see Ravi’s arrest as an extension of the government’s harsh stance against those who support the protests.