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Toolkit controversy
A toolkit is a booklet or document created to explain a cause or issue. It identifies approaches to address the issue from the grassroots level. It is a collection of authoritative and adaptable resources for front-line staff. Toolkits can help translate theory into practice, and typically target one issue or one audience.
Controversy[edit]
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On February 3, Greta Thunberg uploaded a document on Twitter which allegedly guided protestors about protests and on how to mobilise people against India and target Indian interests/embassies abroad. It contained actions taken up to 26 January 2021, future actions to undertake, hashtags which trended and would trend, celebrities who would be sympathetic to these protests and solidarity videos etc. She soon deleted the tweet saying that the document was "outdated", and uploaded another toolkit to support protests, sparking a further row.[2][3] The document also contained details how and where the protests should be done outside Indian missions abroad, media houses, government buildings and even Adani-Ambani offices and asks people to tag Prime Minister Narendra Modi, agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar in their social media posts.[4]
The Times of India reported that an initial probe by the Modi government, into the source of the toolkit that Thunberg posted, suggested that it was put together by the Poetic Justice Foundation based in Vancouver, and that the toolkit had a plan to carry forward the "malign Indian campaign", even if the government repealed the laws. According to one official, "This showed how sinister the entire campaign was".[5]
Investigation[edit]
The toolkit caught the attention of the Delhi police who began a criminal investigation, claiming the document was evidence of a conspiracy "to wage economic, social, cultural and regional war against India". On February 4, Special Cell of Delhi Police registered a case against the creators of the ‘toolkit’ on farmer protests under serious sections including sedition, criminal conspiracy and promoting hatred among groups under Sections 124A, 120A and 153 A of the Indian Penal Code.[6]
On 13 February 2021, the Delhi police conducted a raid on the Bangalore home of Disha Ravi an environmentalist who co-founded the Bangalore branch of Fridays for Future and detained her for questioning from the jurisdiction of Soladevanahalli police station in Bengaluru for allegedly disseminating the social media toolkit, which was allegedly meant to create unrest in India under garb of supporting the 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protests.[7] She was sent to 5-day police custody.[8][9][10]
Reuters reports the police filed a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy against Ravi and said her arrest is related to an investigation into farmers storming the historic Red Fort on January 26, 2021; Delhi police official Prem Nath told reporters, "The main aim of the ‘toolkit’ was to create misinformation and disaffection against the lawfully enacted government."[11] The police have stated that the toolkit outlined plans that resembled violence that unfolded on 26 January 2021 in New Delhi during the tractor parade and that the investigation is linked to the pro-Khalistani group Poetic Justice Foundation.[9][12] "The call was to wage economic, social, cultural and regional war against India," Delhi Police Special Commissioner stated.[13]
On February 15, 2021, The Delhi police hold a press conference and claimed that evidence against Disha Ravi was extracted from her cellphone.[14] As per the Delhi Police, Disha Ravi along with Mumbai lawyer Nikita Jacob and Pune-based engineer Shantanu Muluk created the 'toolkit', which was aimed at 'tarnishing the image of India'. on January 11 PJF organized a Zoom meeting which was attended by around 60 to 70 people including Nikita and Shantanu to finalised the plan to create the "toolkit" titled "Global Farmer Strike" and "Global Day of Action, 26 January".[15] The investigation team also accessed the WhatsApp chats between Greta Thunberg and Disha Ravi and as per the Delhi Police, the chats between the Ravi and Thunberg hinted at both reportedly discussing how to create a protest ‘toolkit’ backing the farmers' agitation with the aim of ‘tarnishing the image of India and the 'hate storm' that could have followed in the country. They also added that Disha Ravi panicked after Greta Thunberg accidentally tweeted the 'toolkit' and feared that she might be booked under the stringent UAPA Act.[15]
References[edit]
- ↑ Greta Thunberg
[@GretaThunberg] (February 4, 2021). "Here's an updated toolkit by people on the ground in India if you want to help. (They removed their previous document as it was outdated.)
#StandWithFarmers #FarmersProtest
[LINK]" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 12 February 2021 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ↑ "Greta Thunberg tweets, deletes and then updates farm protest 'toolkit'". The Times of India. 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ↑ Bhasin, Swati (2021-02-04). "Greta Thunberg Tweets Toolkit On Farmers' Protest, Deletes, Shares Update". NDTV. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ↑ "Greta Thunberg faces backlash after 'toolkit' tweet: Key things to know". Deccan Herald. 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Singh, Akhilesh (February 5, 2021). "Farmers protest: Canada-based pro-Khalistani outfit blamed for organising Twitter toolkit". The Times of India. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
- ↑ "Disha Ravi created 'toolkit', collaborated with Poetic Justice Foundation: Police". 14 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
- ↑ "21-year-old activist 'picked up' in Bengaluru for Greta 'toolkit'". The New Indian Express. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Rai, Arpan, ed. (2021-02-14). "Climate activist Disha Ravi remanded to 5-day Delhi Police special cell custody". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 "21-Year Old Climate Activist Remanded To 5-Day Delhi Police Custody In Greta Thunberg 'Toolkit' Case". Live Law. 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Chauhan, Bala; Sultan, Parvez (February 15, 2021). "Disha Ravi, Bengaluru's Greta, sent to 5-day Delhi police custody". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ↑ Monnappa, Chandini; Jain, Rupam (February 15, 2021). "India's arrest of activist tied to Greta Thunberg's movement sparks outrage". Reuters. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ↑ "'Key conspirator, collaborated with pro-Khalistani body': Delhi Police on Disha Ravi, arrested in toolkit case". The Indian Express. 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Sengar, Mukesh (14 February 2021). "Arrested Activist Disha Ravi, 22, Edited Greta Thunberg "Toolkit": Cops". NDTV. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "3 Activists, Others Had A Zoom Call Ahead Of Republic Day Violence: Cops". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Disha Ravi panicked after Greta accidentally tweeted 'Toolkit', feared UAPA may be slapped against her". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 2021-02-16.