The Delhi Police on Thursday said they have not named Swedish environment activist Greta Thunberg in the FIR filed to investigate an “international conspiracy” to defame the country. The FIR was filed a day after the teen activist put out a tweet in which she attached a “toolkit” for the protesting farmers at the Delhi borders.
“We haven’t named anybody in the FIR. It’s only against the creators of the “toolkit” which is a matter of investigation and the Delhi Police will be investigating that case,” said Praveen Rajan, Special Commissioner of Police.
"Delhi Police has taken cognizance of a toolkit document found on a social media handle that predates and indicates a copycat execution of a conspiracy behind the January 26 violence. The call was to wage economic, social, cultural and regional war against India," he said.
The FIR has been filed under IPC Sections 124 A (spreading disaffection against government of India), 153 A (promoting hatred among various communities on social/cultural/religious grounds), 153 and 120 B (criminal conspiracy).
Thunberg had come out in support of the ongoing farmers' protest against the Centre's new agri laws on Wednesday, hours after singer Rihanna extended her support to the protests.
"We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India," Thunberg tweeted. She also shared a “toolkit” for farmers, which led to a social media outrage, with many users alleging an “international conspiracy” to defame India. The activist later deleted this tweet, but came up with an updated “toolkit”.
On Thursday, after the Delhi Police filed the FIR, Thunberg reiterated her stand and said: "I still #StandWithFarmers and support their peaceful protest. No amount of hate, threats or violations of human rights will ever change that. #FarmersProtest".
Thousands of farmers have been protesting at the Delhi borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
The protesting farmers have expressed the apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations.
However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.