New Delhi

Following the arrest of 21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi in connection with the dissemination of the Toolkit document, Greta Thunberg on Saturday responded to the arrest and said freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest are non-negotiable human rights.

"Freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest and assembly are non-negotiable human rights. These must be a fundamental part of any democracy. #StandWithDishaRavi," Greta Thunberg wrote in a tweet.

Soon after self-proclaimed climate activist Greta, singer Rihanna and a former porn star Mia Khalifa had tweeted in support of the farmers' protest early in February, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had come out with a comprehensive statement.

It said, "Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken. The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible. "

Meanwhile, Disha was sent to three days in judicial custody by a Delhi court on Friday in connection with the 'toolkit' case on the farmers' protest. She was produced before Patiala House Court by the Special Cell of Delhi Police, as her five-day police custody ended Friday.

Disha was arrested from Bengaluru on February 13 on charges of conspiracy and sedition against the country after investigations into the 'Toolkit' matter revealed that she was one of its "editors." She had broken down in court after her arrest pleading that she had edited only few lines of the document.

The police had earlier registered an FIR against unidentified persons in connection with the creators of the 'toolkit' which had elaborated how anti-India forces, including Khalistanis, orchestrated the entire Republic Day violence in Delhi and were actively "internationalising" the farmers' protest in India.

Disha was also the one who sent the toolkit document to Greta Thunberg to tweet in support of it, though police investigations revealed that Disha had, as an afterthought, asked Greta to not upload the Toolkit itself on any social media platform.

She realised it could lead the Indian authorities to her and slapping of the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) against her and therefore asked Greta to resist. Greta, however, did upload the document on Twitter. 

Toolkit matter: Disha puts the blame on Nikita, Shantanu

New Delhi/ Published 19-02-2021

Climate activist Disha Ravi was sent to three days in judicial custody by a Delhi court on Friday in connection with the 'toolkit' case on the farmers' protest that the police is investigating.

Disha, whose five-day police custody ended today, was produced before Patiala House Court by the Special cell of Delhi Police. Friday morning, Disha was produced before a metropolitan magistrate (MM) Akash Jain in Patiala House Court, according to the Delhi Police officials.

Public Prosecutor Irfan Ahmed appearing on behalf of Delhi Police said that during her time in police remand Disha has been evasive and has shifted the blame on advocate Nikita Jacob and activist Shantanu Muluk also named as accused by the police in the same case.

The Delhi Police counsel told court that Disha needs to be confronted with her co-accused and sought three days of judicial custody for her. "During the course of interrogation, Disha Ravi has shifted the blame on Nikita and Shantanu," said the Public Prosecutor.

"During the course of the investigation, she has been evasive. So we want further three days of Judicial Custody," said Advocate Irfan Ahmed.

"Bail application has been moved and it will come up for hearing tomorrow," said Public Prosecutor Irfan Ahmed in the court. The advocate also told court that the police have sent a notice to Shantanu asking to join the investigation on February 22.

Advocate Sidharth Aggarwal appeared for Disha Ravi in the trial court. Disha was arrested from Bengaluru on February 13 and taken to Delhi by flight. She was produced before a Delhi Magistrate the next day and remanded to police custody till February 19.

On February 18, Disha moved the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to the Delhi Police to not leak any investigation material in relation to FIR filed against her to any third party, including the media.

The Delhi Police sent a communication to Google seeking registration details and activity log of the account, through which a "toolkit" was created and uploaded on the social media platform. Two e-mail IDs, one Instagram account, and one Uniform Resource Locator (URL) were mentioned in the toolkit and police have asked for details from the respective platforms.

The police had registered an FIR against unidentified persons in connection with the creators of the 'toolkit'. The Bombay High Court had on Wednesday granted transit anticipatory bail of three weeks to Nikita Jacob.