Farmers Movement Archive

'Propose Greta's name for child bravery award': Meenakshi Lekhi on toolkit row

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi took a swipe as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and said she would propose her name for child bravery award as the 18-year-old activist has done a "huge" service to the country by uploading the toolkit which according to Lekhi proves the conspiracy being hatched to destabilise India.I propose Greta Thunberg for Child bravery Award which Govt of India should bestow on her as she has done a huge service by uploading the document providing proof about hatching of a conspiracy to destabilise India from 1/1/ & leading up to 26/1/2021"She is a kid, she is a child...we have all through this engagement knew that there was a conspiracy hatched outside the country. But we have no proof. She has given us proof. I am grateful to her for that. In her naivety, she has given us proof. We should acknowledge that. I don't despise her for this," the BJP MP said."What I despise is that her name has been prosed by some elements for Nobel Peace Prize and she is known to be an environmentalist. Now an environmentalist who does not understand sustainable farming practices, an environmentalist who doesn't understand the kind of problems that stubble burning can give, an environmentalist who doesn't understand how much water is needed for farming and an environmentalist who doesn't even understand the diversification of crops, can't be even named for Nobel Peace Prize. The prize will lose its credibility if such people are named for it. I despise that," she added.Greta Thunberg is in news for extending support to the ongoing farmers' protests. Her tweet came soon after American pop singer Rihanna tweeted a CNN article on farmers' protest and partial internet suspension. The "international support" has drawn flak as an international conspiracy to attack India's democracy. The ministry of external affairs drew a link between this with the recent desecration of Gandhi statues at various places in the world and said both are attempts to hurt India's democracy.Union ministers, BJP leaders, Bollywood and cricket personalities put their weight behind the message of India's unity and urged their follower to not believe in rumours.Meanwhile, Greta Thunberg tweeted a document which had Rihanna's name mentioned. This apparently proved that getting international figures to tweet for farmers' protest is a "bigger" plan. Greta, however, deleted the link and tweeted a fresh link of an action document which too lists similar actions but it does not mention any name.Meenakshi Lekhi said the earlier document made it clear that there have been elaborate plans to "destabilise" India since January 1.Delhi Police filed an FIR against the creators of the toolkit for criminal conspiracy. Greta, however, was undeterred and said she will still stand with the farm protests.

Hindustan Times

04-02-2021

India