Arundhati Roy Faces UAPA Prosecution 14 Years After Controversial Remarks on Kashmir
Posted by admin on 2024-06-19 |
Last week, 14 years after the original complaint, Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has granted permission to prosecute Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy under India’s stringent anti-terror laws.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is infamous for making it extremely difficult to secure bail, often leading to prolonged detention until the trial concludes.
Current Status
The allegations against Roy are still to be fully investigated and concluded logically by the Delhi Police, who need to gather sufficient evidence against the accused. Two of the accused, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, have already passed away.
It remains unclear what evidence the Delhi Police has collected against the remaining two accused, which prompted the Lieutenant Governor to sanction prosecution under the UAPA.
Controversial Remarks
At a heated, day-long conference organized by the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners in Delhi in October 2010, Roy stated, “Kashmir has never been an integral part of India. It is a historical fact. Even the Indian government has accepted this.”
Roy’s remarks unsurprisingly ignited a firestorm of protests, with many critics questioning her loyalty to India. The federal government at the time, led by the Congress party, threatened to arrest her on charges of sedition. A senior minister asserted that while India enjoys freedom of speech, it must not violate the patriotic sentiments of its people.
Legal Proceedings
Activist Sushil Pandit from Kashmir filed a complaint under Section 156(3) of the CrPC before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in New Delhi. The court disposed of the complaint on November 27, 2010, directing the registration of an FIR.
The conference took place amidst significant turmoil in Indian-administered Kashmir, with locals describing the situation as an intense uprising against India.
Public Reaction
Protests erupted outside Roy's residence in an upscale Delhi neighborhood. A criminal complaint was filed against her and another defendant, Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a law teacher from Kashmir. They, along with two others, were accused of sedition.
Arundhati Roy, now 62, is known for being an outspoken writer and activist. She has been a vocal critic of the Modi government, expressing dissent on several issues.
