Unjust arrest of youth in connection with the ongoing farmers protest in India
Of late in India there have been farmer protests against Central GOvernment’s three controversial farm laws, that aimed to have COrporates get control of the agricultural sector. Farmers then resorted to protest out in the cold at the borders of India’s National Capital,Delhi, fearing that they would be forced to sell their produce at throw away prices to Corporate Entities. What has prompted me now to feel outraged is the arrest of a 21 year old young lady just out of college for sharing a toolkit to help the international community support the peaceful farmer’s movement if they want to.
Farmer protests on 3 Black farm laws that were passed unconstitutionally
The farmers’ protests have actually been mostly just and peaceful with the farmers protesting against those farms laws, which were passed in September last year forcibly during the Covid-19 pandemic, without consulting the country’s farmers who are the main stakeholders. Those ‘black farm laws’ were literally pushed through the Legislative houses, without even getting the required support of the members of Parliament. So, these laws were clearly passed undemocratically and are unconstitutional in nature.
Farmers’ protest draw the attention of the international community
Government did not expect lakhs of farmers to protest against these passed laws thinking that they can prevent their protests citing Covid-19. However, the farmers did not give up and give in to the Government’s game, even though they had to bear lots of inconvenience camping out for days since 3 months(from November 2020) and protesting. They are clear they want these Black farm laws scrapped or repealed. Some farmers have died in the cold too protesting.
This peaceful protest has attracted international attention and that is where the trouble began leading to the arrest of Disha Ravi, who was not in any way involved directly in this farmers’ protest.
Gretha Thunberg tweet brought the toolkit to the attention of the Indian Government
What happened was this farmers’ protest was noticed by [Pop singer Rihanna](https://thewire.in/rights/rihanna-greta-thunberg-farmers-protest-troll-attack), who tweeted about it, asking why no one was talking about the farmers’ protest in India. Then this tweet was noticed by well known climate change activist Greta Thunberg, who then tweeted that she stands in solidarity with the peacefully protesting farmers. She then shared a link to a toolkit, telling others can support the farmers doing peaceful campaigns guided by the methodologies highlighted in the shared toolkit.
India Government declares that they would take stringent action on the creators of the toolkit
Post this, the Government decided to take action against [the creators of the toolkit](https://thewire.in/rights/farmers-protest-greta-thunberg-toolkit-twitter-storm), which they claim is a war against the Government of India, set to destroy the Government religiously, economically and socially. Yup, such nonsense.
Anyway… Then, the Government’s investigation led to Disha Ravi, a youth who is active lobbying peacefully on the cause of climate change, being one of the founders of India’s wing of ‘Fridays For Future’.
‘Fridays For Future’, is a movement inspired by Greta Thunberg, where school and college youth get together and do campaigns urging the Government to implement measures to combat the reality of climate change. Disha is also an animal lover evident from the picture shared on media here, she’s also a vegan, opposed to a lifestyle that does cruelty to animals!!
Government brands Disha as a conspirator against the Government of India!!
The Central Government has levied heavy charges on her, stating that she’s a part of a criminal conspiracy and accused her of conducting seditious activities, forming a wats up group to coordinate her work on her campaign armed with that toolkit. Her crime was editing the toolkit, and posting it on social media, guiding people on participating peacefully in campaigns supporting the cause of the protesting farmers.
The toolkit talked about peaceful methods of supporting farmers through digital strike with hashtags and tweeter storms. It also mentioned that people can protest outside Indian embassy offices and office of COrporates of Adani and Ambani, who have vested interests to gain entry into the agricultural sector which those farm laws allow for.
The Government has asked twitter and social media giants to give email id’s and urls of the people who shared and created that tool kit.
For the Indian Government anybody who critiques them is a enemy
In no angle, can anyone be arrested for sharing such a toolkit and the Government’s act is an exaggeration. Disha was arrested because she supports the protesting farmers, however indirectly it may be and the Indian Government looks upon anyone not supporting their policies and speaking against them as an enemy of the Government, country and whatever…
5 days of jail in an unknown City for a young women for no legitimate reason
What’s more Disha Ravi has not even authored the toolkit but only edited a few portions of it. She was arrested from Bangalore, by another City’s police, the Delhi police who came flying by plane to arrest her. She was flown from her City to the Capital and taken to court where the poor girl was not represented by any lawyer. Now, she’s been commanded to be jailed for 5 days.
I am absolutely appalled by this. I am helplessly occupied minding my business, doing crypto, but yesterday I made time to sign this petition which urges the Government to release Disha Ravi immediately. Her family was not informed of the reasons for her arrest, plus they are not told where they intend to take Disha. Taking Disha off from Bangalore to Delhi, is not correct, she being a young lady, this will worry her family too, after all no one trusts that police custody is safe in the country.
Niece of Kamala Harris, Meera Harris has talked about the arrest of 23 year old Nodeep Kaur, from a farmer’s protest site and being sexually harassed in police custody, this kind of news worries even me for other ladies taken to police custody.
Petition demanding release of Disha Ravi back to her home immediately!!
Sign Petition asking for release of Disha Ravi!!
I urge everyone to sign this petition demanding the release of Disha Ravi, she’s just 21 afterall and India’s prominent climate activist, she does not deserve this treatment!!
Thankful to Greta and others speaking up against atrocities happening in India
I thank Greta Thunberg, Rihanna on speaking about this farmers protest and atrocities of the Indian Government. I am glad they can’t be arrested by the Indian police too as they live far far away.