Protests in B’luru, clamour grows over arrest of 22-year-old Disha
NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: Scores of people demonstrated in Bengaluru and Mumbai on Monday against the arrest of activist Disha Ravi for circulating a toolkit on social media supporting the protests by farmers against the agri bills.
In Bengaluru, demonstrators, which included prominent historian Ramachandra Guha, held placards calling for Ravi’s immediate release. In Mumbai, around 50 people also demanded that Ravi be freed. Activists have planned more protests across the country over the next few days.
The leaders of farmer unions, too, condemned the arrest of Ravi and termed it a government attempt to weaken their movement. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha said in a statement that it is “deeply concerned and anguished about the brazen misuse of police power”.
NEW DELHI: Senior opposition leaders on Monday hit out at the Centre as they condemned the arrest of 22-year-old environmental activist Disha Ravi by Delhi Police.
In a tweet, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “Tell them that the truth is alive till now. They (the government) are scared, not the country. India won’t be silenced.” He also quoted Faiz Ahmed Faiz, saying, “Bol ke lab azad hai tere.”
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said “people with guns are afraid of an unarmed girl who is spreading the light of courage.”
Ravi was arrested by the Delhi police from Bengaluru on Sunday for allegedly sharing on social media a toolkit related to farmers’ protest against the Centre three new farm laws.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also lent his support for the activist. “Arrest of 21 yr old Disha Ravi is an unprecedented attack on Democracy. Supporting our farmers is not a crime.”
Quoting Pastor Martin Niemoller, theologian in Hitler’s Germany, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “The Modi government has to end such persecution of young activists forthwith. These youngsters are the future of India. Persecuting them under draconian laws will destroy our future.”
While the CPI(M) Politburo issued a statement asking the government to end this persecution, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a union of several farm unions protesting against the laws, said it is “deeply concerned and anguished about the brazen misuse of police power by the government in its efforts to weaken the ongoing farmers’ movement. It condemns the arrest of young environmental activist Disha Ravi without due procedures being followed. SKM demands her immediate unconditional release.”
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief MK Stalin also took to
Twitter to condemn the arrest and said, “Shocked by the police arrest of Disha Ravi on flimsy charges. Silencing critics of the government through authoritarian means is not the rule of law. I urge the BJP govt to desist from taking such punitive action & instead listen to the voices of dissent from young persons.”
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, argued that the Delhi police’s press briefing revealed the conspiracy behind the toolkit shared by several activists amid the farm stir, and hit out the Opposition for politicising the issue. “Delhi Police’s press briefing spoke volumes about conspiracy behind the toolkit. Those trying to politicise it should answer if the country’s sovereignty and integrity isn’t important?” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told news agency ANI.
Thousands of farmers have been camping on Delhi’s borders since November 26, 2020, demanding the repeal of the three laws which they said would erode their bargaining power and put them at the mercy of powerful agri-businesses and corporates. They also fear that the laws may cause the dismantling of the mandi system and erode minimum support prices for agricultural produce.
They (the government) are scared, not the country. India won’t be silenced RAHUL GANDHI, Congress leader