Arundhati Roy’s prosecution amounts to fascism, assault on democratic values, say Opposition leaders
The Delhi lieutenant-governor on Friday approved the prosecution of the author, along with former professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain, under the UAPA.
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The Delhi lieutenant-governor’s decision to sanction the prosecution of author Arundhati Roy and former professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain is an assault on democratic values and is condemnable, Opposition leaders said on Saturday.
On Friday, Delhi Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena allowed Roy and Hussain to be prosecuted under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, which pertains to inciting an unlawful activity and is punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment. The case pertains to a 2010 conference during which they allegedly gave provocative speeches about the separation of Kashmir from India.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) asked why Roy was being prosecuted for a speech that she gave 14 years ago. “Defies logic except the fascist kind,” the party said on X. “Timing is suspect since courts are on vacation, as are lawyers. Shameful and Condemnable!”
Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Hariprasad PK described Roy as a “brilliant mind, an internationally renowned writer, and a leading intellectual”. He alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party manufactures crises every day to “distract and overwhelm dissenters” so that it could divert attention from its failures.
“This assault on free expression & democratic values is unacceptable,” the former MP said.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra said: “If by prosecuting Arundhati Roy...
