What is Greta Thunberg’s Toolkit? Why it has caused a huge controversy in India

Teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg yesterday was in the news after she tweeted about the farmer protests in India. Along with her support to the farmers in protest, Greta Thunberg had also shared a toolkit (in a tweet) to help people wanting to join the protest either from the confines of their home, regardless of the nation they’re in. But soon after the toolkit was deleted. However, Greta Thunberg reshared the toolkit with an updated link to allow everyone around the world to join in the protests and support the farmers. Here’s all that’s included in the toolkit:

Greta Thunberg suggests people express their solidarity through a photo or a video on social media platforms with a hashtag #FarmersProtest or #StandWithFarmers. Additionally, she has also asked individuals to up the ante by sharing a video asking the government questions surrounding the three laws that farmers are protesting against. She also suggests tweeting to handles like @PMOIndia, @nstomar (Minister of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare), heads of state of the protester as well as international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organisation, UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation as well as the World Bank. Greta Thunberg has listed links from publications belonging to different institutions such as ruralIndiaonline.org, Trolley times as well as agroecology.eaction.online to learn more about the movement and its significance. 

Greta Thunberg had also asked people who are in India to watch out and join Farmer’s March/Parade into Delhi and back to Delhi’s borders. For Indians who aren’t in India, she recommended protesting near Indian Embassies, government offices, media houses etc. Greta has mentioned how it’s crucial to put pressure internationally on the Indian government and to aid this, she has added templates, contact information of local representatives to ask them to do their civic duty. She’s also listed a series of petitions from a variety of organisations to condemn violence in India and demanding the Indian government to listen to the protestors instead of silencing them. The petitions listed are addressed to the United Nations, a Change.org petition to abolish the 3 farm laws, as well as a guideline to seek support from MPs. After Greta’s tweets, Delhi police  filed an FIR (First Incident Report) against the creators of "toolkit''. Delhi Police's official Twitter account has also shared a post saying it has "taken cognizance of a 'Toolkit Document' found on a social media platform that predates and indicates a copycat execution of a conspiracy behind the January 26 violence."

Delhi Police has taken cognizance of a 'Toolkit Document' found on a social media platform that predates and indicates a copycat execution of a conspiracy behind the 26Jan violence. The call was to wage economic, social, cultural and regional war against India.

— #DilKiPolice Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) February 4, 2021