Farmers Movement Archive

AAP slams cops, Centre over arrest of activist

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party on Monday condemned the arrest of 21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi by Delhi Police in the Greta Thunberg “toolkit” case. Chief minister and AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: “Arrest of 21 yr old Disha Ravi is an unprecedented attack on democracy. Supporting our farmers is not a crime.” Demanding the activist’s immediate release, AAP national spokesperson Raghav Chadha said, “AAP condemns the arrest of young climate activist Disha Ravi by Delhi Police in the strongest words. I wonder how a government that has a massive majority is scared of a 21-year-old climate activist.” “The Modi government at the Centre is scared, fearful and petrified by the voice of the youth of India. Students have been raising their voice persistently against the policies and laws implemented by the BJP government. But BJP does not like the youth of our country and that is why they have arrested India’s daughter, a 21-year-old student and climate activist,” added Chadha. The Rajendra Nagar MLA further stated, “BJP cries hoarse about the Emergency and how freedom of expression was mercilessly trampled upon during that dark period. In fact, several BJP functionaries themselves went to jail for objecting to the suspension of fundamental rights. They exercised their democratic right to protest back in the 1970s and wear their jail time as a badge of honour. How different are they now? It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that what BJP is doing now is far more sinister, far more insidious than what happened in 1975.” Claiming that Delhi Police had not produced any transit remand or followed proper legal procedure in this arrest, Chadha called it an “extrajudicial abduction”. “With this arrest, BJP has made it clear that they are rattled and cannot handle the voice against the farm laws and the protest that is happening against them. Today, AAP wants to appeal to the youth of the country to unite,” he added. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said every nationalist felt sad to see Chadha’s statement on the activist’s arrest. “It’s pathetic to see AAP defend misguided youth, from Umar Khalid to Disha Ravi. It seems the day is not far when AAP might defend Deep Sidhu or the youth who heralded the Sikh flag atop Red Fort,” he added.

The Times of India

2021-02-15

Delhi