Recently, Delhi Police arrested a climate activist Ms. Ravi alleging that her social media post amounted to sedition and incitement of riots.
What was the charge mentioned in the arrest?
The main charge was that she edited a Google document shared among activists, including global climate activist Greta Thunberg.
It is alleged that the document was prepared by a pro-Khalistani outfit and Ms. Ravi is working with separatists to create disaffection against India.
However such documents are common for those organising protests online and they do not contain much more than calls for protests, texts to be tweeted and hashtags.
Moreover discussing and planning the protests does not amount to incitement of violence, a mandatory requirement to charge someone, as done in the case of Ms. Ravi.
What we can infer from this?
The police in India have a dubious record of effecting needless arrests and filing questionable cases as a tool of harassment.
The state is increasingly resorting to heavy-handed responses to issues that attract a convergence of activism, opposition political activity and adverse media scrutiny.
This will attract international because of indiscriminate use of police power against activists, protesters and the media.
Online or offline activism in support of the ongoing farmers’ protests, mobilisation of public opinion against government policy are not going to affect the country’s reputation and prestige.
Government which is truly worried about its global image should address the deficit in tolerance.
