Disha Ravi Arrest: Samyukta Kisan Morcha Flays ‘Brazen Misuse’ of Police Power

New Delhi: Organisations across various walks of life – from farmers to software engineers – have expressed anguish at the arrest of climate activist Disha Ravi and have questioned the manner in which her transit remand was handled by the authorities. The Delhi Commission of Women has even sent a notice to the Delhi Police seeking a detailed report by Friday.

In a statement, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella of over 40 farmer unions, which is spearheading the farmer protests, has condemned the arrest of young environmental activist Disha Ravi “without due procedures being followed” and has demanded her immediate unconditional release.

Also commenting on the “brazen misuse” of police power to weaken the farmers’ protest, SKM said, even young environmentalists understand that “unviable farming leads to unsustainable farming.”

“It is this inter-linkage between viability and sustainability that activists like Disha Ravi have understood in their extension of support for the farmers' protests,” said the SKM, which has been carrying on a peaceful protest demanding repeal of the three “pro-corporate” farm laws brought in by the Narendra Modi government.

In another statement, the Free Software Movement of India (FSMI) has also expressed anger at the arrest of Ravi and the growing attacks on all those who are critical of the government and its policies, such as activists, farmers, independent media, among others.

On Ravi’s arrest, FSMI said: “All this has happened without any evidence and also without the presence of her legal counsel. This makes this arrest illegal and a gross misuse of power. This makes this arrest illegal and a gross misuse of power. Twitter accounts of journalists and Independent news sources have been blocked.”

Read the full statements below:

Samyukta Kisan Morcha Press Note*

83rd day, 15th february 2021.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha - SKM is deeply concerned and anguished about the brazen misuse of police power by the government in its efforts to weaken the ongoing farmers' movement. It condemns the arrest of young environmental activist Disha Ravi without due procedures being followed. SKM demands her immediate unconditional release.

India's young environmentalists do understand and appreciate that unviable farming leads to unsustainable farming too. It is unsurprising that farmers end up adopting desperate unsustainable practices to make ends meet, when their farming gets riskier due to increasingly adverse markets (due to unfair trade egged on by big corporations) and compounded by climate change. The three farm laws rammed down by the Centre do not guarantee remunerative markets for farmers and instead make the markets riskier for farmers, with greater vulnerability to exploitation. In such a situation, the possibility of farmers adopting unsustainable production practices is higher. It is this inter-linkage between viability and sustainability that activists like Disha Ravi have understood in their extension of support for the farmers' protests. On the other hand, the legitimate demand for legal guarantee of MSP for all crops will help farmers diversify from monocropping of paddy and wheat, and will pave way for a lasting solution to the straw burning problem linked to soil degradation, air pollution and resultant health risks for farming and urban communities. It is for such solutions that the environmental activists are striving for. It is therefore unsurprising that environmental activists are lending support to ongoing farmers' movement, and only those who do not understand the issues involved here will feign surprise at why people like Disha Ravi are supporting the movement.

Tomorrow, on 16th February 2021, Samyukt Kisan Morcha has put out a call for commemorating the contributions of Sir Chhotu Ram for peasant consciousness cutting across religious lines. The Unionist Party that he set up brought in a law against usury in the 1930s, that protected peasants from the clutches of moneylenders and restored the right of land to the tiller of the land. Sir Chhotu Ram is also credited with the establishment of the mandi system in India, and it is this system that the present farmers' movement seeks to protect and improve.

On 16th February, SKM calls on all its constituents to organise meetings that explain the contributions of Sir Chhotu Ram and the need to further strengthen the ongoing movement, taking inspiration from exemplary people like him.

On 18th February, SKM has given a call for a rail roko action all over India from 12noon to 4pm. This is expected to happen all over India.

FSMI Statement on Arrest of Climate Activist

Disha Ravi, a 22-year-old climate activist, has been arrested and sent to remand for 5 days. All this has happened without any evidence and also without the presence of her legal counsel. This makes this arrest illegal and a gross misuse of power. Twitter accounts of journalists and Independent news sources have been blocked. Recently, the Enforcement Directorate raided the offices of Newsclick. The ED has taken over all private correspondence of the individuals along with the documents they have the power to collect.

Whether it is shutting down the Internet, crushing independent journalism or arresting activists under charges without evidence, these moves are aimed at thwarting truth and justice. FSMI stands in solidarity with Disha Ravi, demands that she be released immediately and the non bailable warrants be withdrawn. FSMI also demands that the private correspondence of individuals be returned back to the individuals, private data in their devices be scrubbed. The judgement of Puttuswamy vs Union of India has termed privacy to be a fundamental right and hence follows the privacy to correspondence between individuals.