A 22-year-old Indian climate activist was arrested after sharing a document aimed at helping farmers to protest the new agricultural laws.
Disha Ravi is accused of sedition and criminal conspiracy.
The document she shared – a “toolkit” that suggests ways to help farmers – was posted by prominent activist Greta Thunberg.
The protests, now in their third month, mark the biggest challenge facing India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi.
New laws loosen the rules on the sale, price and storage of agricultural products, which have protected Indian farmers from the free market for decades.
Farmers fear that the new laws threaten decades-long concessions – such as guaranteed prices – and weaken their bargaining power, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by private companies.
The Modi government has offered to suspend the laws, but farmers want them to be replaced altogether.
What do we know about the Disha Ravi ‘toolkit’ case?
Ms. Ravi, a student and one of the founders of the Indian branch of the Fridays for Future climate strike, was arrested by Delhi police.
Police said the toolkit suggested a conspiracy in the race for a major demonstration on January 26, which saw farmers protest in confrontation with the police.
“The call was to wage an economic, social, cultural and regional war against India,” said Delhi Police Special Commissioner Praveer Ranjan.
“We recorded a case for spreading discontent against the Indian government – it is about sedition – and disharmony between groups for religious, social and cultural reasons, and criminal conspiracy to shape such a plan,” he added.
Activists say Ravi’s arrest is a clear warning for those who wish to express support for protests against the government.