Tag: #NDA

WHEN THE ‘TOOLKIT’ BECOMES THE TOOL

In light of the recent ‘Farmer’s protest toolkit controversy’, a 22-year-old environmental activist from Bengaluru, Disha Ravi has been arrested by the Delhi police on Sunday 14th February 2021. She is now under five-day police custody as the Delhi Magistrate decided to remand her following the arrest. She has been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 124(a) for sedition, 153(a) for promoting enmity between different sections of the society and 120(b) for criminal conspiracy. She is accused of involvement in the composition of the “toolkit”, an online document shared by the International environmental activist Greta Thunberg, which consists of action plans to protest against the farm bill. Police claimed that the toolkit had the violence on 26th January as one of its “action plans” to protest against the farm bill, in addition to the pro-Khalistani elements.

Since last October, thousands of farmers have been camping on the national capital borders, protesting against the three newly passed farm laws introduced by the NDA government. On the republic day, the tractor rally conducted by the protesting farmers has resulted in great commotion as the farmers attempted to enter the national capital region, storming the Red Fort complex and clashing with the police and security forces. The police allege that plans for such actions were formulated in the online document, described as a “toolkit” that Ravi created and shared with Thunberg. “The main aim of the toolkit was to create misinformation and disaffection against the lawfully enacted government,” said a police official. “The toolkit sought to artificially amplify the fake news through various tweets which they have created in the form of a tweet bank. The document that they drafted had secessionist and pro-Khalistani content embedded into it through links and texts” he added. 

The arrest of Disha has instigated furious criticism against the fascist actions of the government regarding the farmers protest. The efforts made by the government to silence and oppress the voice of the farmers and the people supporting them is more of a provocative manner than a call for peace.

TARIQ ANWAR AT KPCC HEADQUARTERS


All India Congress committees newly appointed General Secretary, Tariq Anwar, in-charge of Kerela and lakshwadeep, addressed the media at the Kerela Pradesh Congress committee headquarters and raised his voice against the bills passed by the NDA government.


He said, “Large number of farmers and agricultural workers are protesting against these bills and they are being suppressed by the government.”


He also added that in Rajya Sabha, the opposition wanted division on this particular bill but the deputy chairman rejected it and then the bill was passed without voting .


The Congress leadership has now decided to launch a series of nationwide protest for the agitating farmers against these anti farmers bills, which will start from 26th of September.


The series of the events will include as follows:


• 26th September – ‘Speak for farmers’, An online protest will be conducted. Where all the party members will be requested to join through social media platforms.


• 28th September – A March will be organised where the party members will submit a memorandum to the governor, addressing the President of India on the agricultural bills.


• 2nd October – On The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi And Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Congress will observe, the ‘majdoor bachao diwas’.


• 10th October – ‘Kisan Sammelan’, Will be organised at state level.


• 2nd-31st October – Signature campaign will be organised where the party members will take signature from 2crore farmers, agricultural workers and mandi workers.


• 14th November – the Memorandum with 2crore signatures will be submitted to the Honourable President.


In th end Tariq Anwar said, “This time we will compel the central government that they should not play with the future of the farmers.”