BENGALURU: Many environmental groups on Sunday condemned Disha Ravi’s arrest by Delhi police, calling the charges “fabricated” and part of a “witch-hunt”.
The Coalition for Environmental Justice in India said young environmental activists have become the latest victims of the Centre’s efforts to deligitimise the farmers’ protests.
“Delhi Police’s actions are all the more sinister because Disha was taken to Delhi with no disclosure about her whereabouts, not even to her parents, an action that can be termed extrajudicial abduction,” it said. In another statement, 10 environmental groups, which went unnamed, sought Disha’s immediate release.
This action against an individual without following due process of law and in clear violation of norms for arrests and detentions laid down by the Supreme Court reflects absolute contempt for constitutional principles,” the Coalition for Environmental Justice in India said.
In another statement, 10 youth-based environmental groups that did not want to be named urged the government to treat citizens with respect. “We demand that this young activist be immediately released, her records expunged and she be escorted safely back to her home,” they said, adding that Disha, an avid animal lover, was the sole earning member of her family. The implication that toolkits are conspiracy gizmos used by foreign forces to destabilise India was “stupid”, the groups said.
“To imply climate change activists are a danger to the peace and harmony of this country in a political climate that is highly polarised is to play fast and loose with their safety and security, especially when there is absolutely no proof to back this claim. If anything, the recent Uttarakhand disaster makes it clear how important the work groups like ours are doing.”
Arguing that terms like “international conspiracy”, “defame the country” and “waging social, cultural and economic war against India” to describe young environmental groups is highly unbecoming of authorities, the statement urged the government to stop viewing everyone who disagrees with its policies as enemies. The government should learn to work with the people who have elected them to office, they said.