Civilian-clad police officers escorted environmental activist Disha Ravi (C) to a local court in New Delhi on February 19, 2021.
AFP | Getty Images
A Delhi court on Friday granted a police request to extend the detention of climate activist Disha Ravi, whom she accuses of sedition for her alleged role in creating an online “toolkit” to help farmers protest reforms.
Ravi, 22, who is part of an organization founded by Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg, appeared in court following her arrest in Bengaluru last weekend in a case that has raised concerns about repression dissent.
Police say Ravi was involved in creating and sharing an online document containing tips for protesters. Police say the document sparked violence that took place on Republic Day in India last month, when farmers stormed the famous Red Fort in Delhi’s old quarter.
Late on Friday, Thunberg sent two tweets with a hashtag supporting Disha.
“Freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest and assembly are negotiable human rights. They must be a fundamental part of any democracy. #StandWithDishaRavi,” Thunberg said in one of his tweets.
Police have registered a case of sedition against Ravi, which has a lifespan.
“This court returns the accused, Disha Ravi, to judicial custody for three days,” Judge Akash Jain said.
Ravi did not rule alone, but denied the allegations against her through her lawyer Siddarth Agarwal, arguing in court that the police had no evidence to support them.
“There is nothing against me, please consider this,” Agarwal told the court on her behalf.
Elderly lawyers and lawmakers criticized the sedition’s case, disputing police claims that the document incited violence.
A Delhi court is scheduled to hear Ravi’s bail request on Saturday.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tried to persuade farmers to return from their protest for several months on the outskirts of Delhi against three new laws to deregulate the vast and old agricultural markets.
He offered to keep the laws in abeyance and reduce some provisions.
But farmers want Modi to completely repeal the laws and provide legal support to support the minimum price for their products.
Thunberg briefly sent a link to the document the police are investigating before withdrawing it.