Climate activist arrested in ‘Toolkit Conspiracy’

Climate activist arrested in ‘Toolkit Conspiracy’

A 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested in connection with the 'Toolkit' conspiracy case, will be produced in the Patiala House Court in Delhi.

What is a tool kit? 

A toolkit, simply put, is a document created to explain any issue. It also provides information on what one needs to do to address the issue. This might include information about petitions, details about protests and mass movements and so on.

Who is Disha Ravi?

Ravi graduated from the Mount Carmel College and is one of the founders of the ‘Fridays for Future’ (FFF) campaign in India. FFF is a global climate strike movement that started in August 2018, when 15-year-old Greta Thunberg began a school strike for climate. It was for students who skip Friday’s classes to participate in demonstrations to demand action from political leaders to take action to prevent climate change and for the fossil fuel industry to transition to renewable energy.

Why is there uproar over toolkit?

According to the police, the “toolkit” has a particular section that mentions “digital strike-through hashtags on or before January 26, tweetstorms on January 23 onwards, physical action on January 26 and watch-out or join farmers march into Delhi and back to borders”.

Disha Ravi’s role

Disha Ravi is an Editor of the Toolkit Google Doc and is accused of being a key conspirator in document's formulation and dissemination. She started a WhatsApp group and collaborated to make the Toolkit doc. She worked closely with them to draft the document. The police said that in the process of drafting the document, Ravi and other members of the group all collaborated with pro-Khalistani Poetic Justice Foundation to spread disaffection against India.

Issues with Arrest

First, the Delhi Police didn’t’ seek permission from the state Police. By that, it disobeyed interstate arrest guidelines formulated by the Delhi High Court. Further the accused was not allowed to be properly represented by a counsel. 

Second, the toolkit doesn’t contain any directions which led to direct incitement of violence. It was a necessary condition for sedition. 

Third, it undermines democratic power when people are arrested due to excessive suspicion and not on merits. Thereby undermining due process. 

Fourth, such arrest shows non judicious use of police power which will diminish India’s Global image.