‘Let that sink in’: Arrested activist Disha Ravi finds support from politicians, activists, writers

The arrest of Disha Ravi, the 21-year-old climate activist who was charged with editing the ‘toolkit’ on farmers’ protest, found widespread support with several prominent politicians, activists and writers speaking up for her. The ‘toolkit’ came into limelight after climate activist Greta Thunberg tweeted it to express support for farmers who have been protesting for the past nearly three months against new farm laws.

Also read: All about the farmers’ protest ‘toolkit’ shared by Greta Thunberg

Tweeting her support, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote, “those armed with guns are scared of an unarmed girl, the light of courage is spreading from this unarmed girl.”

Leaders across political lines, from Congress to the Left, to Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena criticised the move to arrest the climate activist. “Doesn’t GoI care about the damage it’s doing to its own global image?” asked Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor, tweeting a report on the issue.

Disha was arrested by Delhi police from her house in Soladevanahalli in Bengaluru on Sunday. According to media reports, she has been charged with sedition, planning a criminal conspiracy and promotion of antipathy amongst groups.

Ravi, a graduate of Mount Carmel College is one of the founders of the “Friday for Future” (FFF) campaign in India, initiated by Thunberg as a global climate strike movement in 2018. Under this campaign school strikes are organized for climate activism every Friday.

Congress leader P Chidambaram said the government seemed to be standing on ‘shaky ground’. “The Indian state must be standing on very shaky foundations if Disha Ravi … a student of Mount Carmel college and a climate activist, has become a threat to the nation”

Among those supporting the arrest was BJP’s Lok Sabha lawmaker from Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency, PC Mohan. He wrote, “Burhan Wani was a 21-year-old. Ajmal Kasab was a 21-year-old. Age is just a number! No one is above the law. Law will take its own course. A Crime is a crime is a crime is a crime.”

Several activists and politicians abroad also came out in support of Disha, MIchale Kugelman, Deputy director @TheWilsonCenterIndia wrote, “India has arrested Disha Ravi, a 21-year-old climate activist, for her role in sharing (and possibly editing) a toolkit that explains how people abroad can express solidarity with Indian farmer protestors. Let that sink in. (And yes, I’ve read through the toolkit document.)”

Lawyer and US Vice-President Kamala harris’ niece, Meena Harris, also tweeted her support. “Indian officials have arrested another young female activist, 21 yo Disha Ravi, because she posted a social media toolkit on how to support the farmers’ protest.”

Canadian writer Rupi Kaur wrote, “disha is a young activist being scapegoated by a regime seeking to use her as a pawn to suppress dissenting voices.” She added Disha’s only crime was to share a document. “disha’s ‘crime’? merely sharing a public document that contained the most basic info for online organization – a suggestion of what people can tweet. what hashtags they can use. and so on,” she added.

Claudia Webbe, UK MP, wrote, “The Farmers Protest is: ▪️A climate justice protest; ▪️A human rights protest; ▪️A gender equality protest; ▪️A class protest; ▪️A protest against food insecurity; Disha Ravi is the latest to be targeted for standing up for her class”

The ongoing farmers’ protest has found support both in India and abroad. Among those who have spoken backing the agitating farmers are singer Rihanna, activist Greta Thunberg, poet Rupi Kaur and comedian Trevor Noah.

Also read: Who is Disha Ravi, the 21-year-old climate activist arrested in Greta Thunberg’s ‘toolkit’ case

The farmers want the new laws repealed, saying that they are anti-farmer and will lead to corporatisation of agriculture. The government denies this saying that the farmers are being misled.