Delhi Police file FIR over ‘toolkit’; Greta says ‘still stand with farmers’

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Thursday said they have registered a first information report (FIR) to probe a “toolkit”, or document, that allegedly detailed an action plan for online and offline protests linked to the ongoing farmers’ agitation, including those during a tractor rally in the Capital on Republic Day.

The toolkit was tweeted by Swedish environment activist Greta Thunberg along with a post in support of the agitating farmers.

At a news briefing, Praveer Ranjan, special commissioner of police (crime), said the FIR against the creators of the toolkit mentioned charges of criminal conspiracy and sedition, but did not name any individual.

Hours earlier, as reports of an FIR against Thunberg were flashed by multiple news outlets — police later clarified the FIR was against unknown persons — the 18-year-old activist posted: “I still #Standwithfarmers and support their peaceful protest. No amount of hate, threats or violations of human rights will ever change that.”

Ranjan pointed to a “copycat execution of the action plan detailed in the toolkit” in the past few days, including the protests on January 26 that plunged into chaos. He said an initial probe revealed that the document was created by pro-khalistani group Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF).

The toolkit became a talking point after Thunberg shared a link to the document on Wednesday, deleted it, and then again posted an updated link on Thursday.

“Design of the author of the toolkit is to create disharmony among various social, religious and cultural groups and encourage disaffection against the government of India. It also aims at waging social, cultural and economic war against India,” Ranjan said.

Govt fends off global clamour on farmers’ agitation