Taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to task over the arrest of climate activist Disha Ravi for her alleged involvement in the toolkit case, the Congress-led opposition Monday condemned the move while dubbing the act as shocking and atrocious.
Using a Hindi couplet to justify his assertion, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Twitter said “India won’t be silenced”.
बोल कि लब आज़ाद हैं तेरे
बोल कि सच ज़िंदा है अब तक!वो डरे हैं, देश नहीं!
India won’t be silenced. pic.twitter.com/jOXWdXLUzY
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 15, 2021
Echoing similar sentiments, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra using the hashtag “India being silenced” demanded the climate activist’s release.
डरते हैं बंदूकों वाले एक निहत्थी लड़की से
फैले हैं हिम्मत के उजाले एक निहत्थी लड़की से#ReleaseDishaRavi #DishaRavi#IndiaBeingSilenced— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 15, 2021
Former union minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram too condemned Disha’s arrest and urged the youth to raise their voice against the “authoritarian regime”.
I strongly condemn the arrest of Disha Ravi and urge all students and youth to raise their voices to protest against the authoritarian regime#ReleaseDishaRavi
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 14, 2021
Congress leader Anand Sharma on his part said the “custodial interrogation of a young woman without any criminal antecedents cannot be justified”.
READ: SC Issues Notice To WhatsApp And Facebook, ‘People’s Privacy More Important Than Money’
“Arrest of climate activist Disha Ravi is most unfortunate & shocking. Custodial interrogation of a young woman without any criminal antecedents cannot be justified,” Sharma tweeted.
Arrest of climate activist Disha Ravi is most unfortunate & shocking. Custodial interrogation of a young woman without any criminal antecedents cannot be justified.
— Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) February 14, 2021
READ: Who Is Nikita Jacob? Things To Know About Mumbai Lawyer Against Whom Delhi Police Has Issued NBW
“Police should recognise her right to liberty and courts must respect the Supreme Court Judgement which says bail is the rule & Jail an exception,” he said in another tweet.
Police should recognise her right to liberty and courts must respect the Supreme Court Judgement which says bail is the rule & Jail an exception.
— Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) February 14, 2021
Demanding the Centre “to end such persecution of young activists”, CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said persecuting youngsters under the “draconian laws will destroy our future”.
“The Modi government has to end such persecution of young activists forthwith. These youngsters are the future of India. Persecuting them under draconian laws will destroy our future. Stop this,” he tweeted.
The Modi government has to end such persecution of young activists forthwith.
These youngsters are the future of India.
Persecuting them under draconian laws will destroy our future.
Stop this.
#DishaRavihttps://t.co/tXpJGk04eY pic.twitter.com/7TAMEPe1qs— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) February 15, 2021
21-year-old activist Disha Ravi from Bengaluru yesterday. She was arrested by the Cyber Prevention Awareness and Detection team of Delhi Police.