Arundhati Roy Statement Becomes Cause for Debate
Writer-activist Arundhati Roy has made headlines throughout India and the world today after reports of possible sedition charges made their way into the morning newspapers.
The 1997 Booker Prize winning Author of The God of Small Things said,"Kashmir has never been an integral part of India. It is a historical fact. Even the Indian government has accepted this."
She further alludes to India's continuing struggle with class distinction by stating, "After attaining freedom from the British, India itself has become a colonial power."
Roy made the statements at a seminar "Wither Kashmir: Freedom or Enslaved" organized by the Coalition of Civil Societies (CCS) in Delhi on Sunday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called for Roy's arrest on the count of sedition, which has lead to a nationwide debate over freedom of speech.
Roy released a personal statement today that can be read here courtesy of HariKunzru.com. The statement references many of the recent battles between the Kashmir people and the Indian government. Roy spoke out against her possible charge of sedition with the following:
"I said what millions of people here say every day. I said what I, as well as other commentators have written and said for years. Anybody who cares to read the transcripts of my speeches will see that they were fundamentally a call for justice."
The conflict over the state of Jammu & Kashmir (J & K) between India, Pakistan, and China has given rise to many human rights issues. India controls approx. 43%, Pakistan approx. 37%, while China has approx. 20% of the state.
Much of the strife in J & K has put security officials in India on alert pending President Obama's visit early next month. During a visit made by former U.S. President Bill Clinton in 2000, terrorists killed 35 Sikhs in the southern region of Kashmir.
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