Scores protest in India against arrest of climate activist
Feb 15, 2021
Scores of people have demonstrated in two Indian cities after a climate activist was arrested for circulating a document supporting months of massive protests by farmers
NEW DELHI (AP) — Scores of people demonstrated in the Indian cities of Bengaluru and Mumbai on Monday after a climate activist was arrested for circulating a document on social media supporting months of massive protests by farmers.
Disha Ravi, 22, was arrested in Bengaluru on Saturday. Police said at a news conference on Monday that the document spread misinformation about the farmer protests on the outskirts of New Delhi and “tarnished the image of India.”
Police say Ravi shared the document with Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, who tweeted it earlier this month.
They say the sharing of the document on social media indicated there was a “conspiracy” behind violence on Jan. 26, India's Republic Day, when the largely peaceful farmer protests erupted into clashes with police. One protester died and hundreds of police and demonstrators were injured.
“The call was to wage economic, social, cultural and regional war against India,” police tweeted on Sunday.
Demonstrators Monday in the southern city of Bengaluru, including prominent historian Ramachandra Guha, held placards calling for Ravi's immediate release. In the western city of Mumbai, around 50 people also demanded that Ravi be freed.
Her arrest has been condemned in India and beyond. Opposition parties called her arrest harassment, intimidation and an attack on democracy. Overseas, the niece of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Meena Harris, criticized the government on Twitter for silencing activists.
Police also issued arrest warrants for two other activists, Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk, saying the three created the document and shared it with others.
Police said the document contained links to websites that were pro-Khalistani, a movement for an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The government initially tried to discredit the protesting farmers, many of whom are Sikhs, as motivated by religious nationalism.
Since November, tens of thousands of farmers have camped outside the capital and blocked highways to protest new agricultural reform laws they say will devastate their incomes. The protests have posed a major challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist-led government, which says the laws are needed to modernize Indian farming.
Critics have accused the government of using the massive demonstrations to escalate a crackdown on free speech.
The protests attracted international attention earlier this month when pop star Rihanna, Thunberg and Meena Harris tweeted their support. India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned “vested interest groups trying to enforce their agenda.”
___
Aijaz Rahi in Bengaluru and Rafiq Maqbool in Mumbai contributed to this report.
MORE NEWS
GST collections remain strong, but faster import growth needs watching: Tax experts
India's GST collections remained strong, rising to Rs 2.04 lakh crore in September, however experts express concern over the wide gap in tax revenue from imports and domestic transactions. They say that the divergence suggested that imports were contributing significantly to the overall growth in collections. The trend could warrant a reassessment of some production-linked incentive schemes to strengthen domestic manufacturing.
Bachelors not allowed? Bengaluru based entrepreneur claims society president asked him to vacate flat just days after he paid deposit
A Bengaluru entrepreneur has described being asked to vacate a rented apartment days after moving in, claiming the residential society objected to him living there as a bachelor. Nikhil Sheoran said he had already paid the security deposit and signed a rental agreement before being told to leave. His account triggered an online discussion about bachelor tenants and housing society rules.
Iran readies harder retaliation if attacked as diplomacy faces long odds
Iran is intensifying its military response planning amid fears of US military escalation in the region. Senior commanders are considering broader targets beyond US-linked assets in their strategic discussions. Diplomatically, Iran has proposed a plan through Qatari mediators to halt fighting and resume oil exports. Economic pressures and fears of unrest within Iran complicate the situation for the leadership.
Asian Games 2026, Day 13 Wrap: India Win Five Medals; Men's Hockey & Cricket Teams Reach Finals
India's overall medal haul rose to 65, including 10 gold, 23 silver and 32 bronze which kept the country inside the top-10 of the standings.
Is Iran behind Flydubai hijack attempt? What we know about the Omani pilot's motive
On September 30, a harrowing incident unfolded on a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot is accused of stabbing the captain, which forced the plane into a distressing descent and emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Passengers and crew quickly intervened, restraining the assailant after the captain opened the cockpit door.
Asian Games 2026 Day 13 Highlights: India Win 5 Medals; Men's Hockey & Cricket Teams Qualify For Final
Asian Games 2026 Highlights: Wrestler Nitesh Siwach bagged the silver medal in the 97kg Greco-Roman wrestling event, while India won two bronze medals in the squash team events.
Satya Niketan neighborhood recovers slowly post-tragedy as students resume daily life
Satya Niketan is gradually returning to normal three weeks after a tragic building collapse. Students are once again frequenting local eateries while some continue to feel insecure in their accommodations. Many residents report a decrease in the student population, affecting local businesses and sales. A few students have expressed their reluctance to leave despite safety concerns and ongoing rent agreements.
Satya Niketan neighborhood recovers slowly post-tragedy as students resume daily life
Satya Niketan is gradually returning to normal three weeks after a tragic building collapse. Students are once again frequenting local eateries while some continue to feel insecure in their accommodations. Many residents report a decrease in the student population, affecting local businesses and sales. A few students have expressed their reluctance to leave despite safety concerns and ongoing rent agreements.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar airlifted to Abu Dhabi after Flydubai cockpit attack
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by his co-pilot during a mid-air cockpit attack, was airlifted to Abu Dhabi for further treatment, ANI reported. Machchhar was earlier hospitalised in Saudi Arabia after helping foil an alleged attempt to crash the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar airlifted to Abu Dhabi after Flydubai cockpit attack
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by his co-pilot during a mid-air cockpit attack, was airlifted to Abu Dhabi for further treatment, ANI reported. Machchhar was earlier hospitalised in Saudi Arabia after helping foil an alleged attempt to crash the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
