Intriguing Twist: Acclaimed Indian Author Arundhati Roy's Sedition Charges Unearthed from 2010 Remarks on Kashmir

Author Arundhati Roy, who won the Booker Prize, may face charges for allegedly making seditious remarks more than a decade ago. An official in Delhi has stated that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution. Roy gained worldwide recognition for her novels, particularly for her Booker Prize-winning book "The God of Small Things." Additionally, she has released two collections of political writings and has consistently been a vocal critic of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a CNN op-ed published in 2022, Roy drew parallels between India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the January 6th US Capitol rioters. He highlighted how individuals, including himself, are considered "anti-nationals" due to their outspoken views, particularly regarding Kashmir. The growing suppression of dissent by Modi's government has led to renewed allegations of curbing free speech.

Earlier this month, the homes of prominent journalists associated with a left-leaning news organization, known for its critical examination of the Indian government, were raided by the police in New Delhi. The police justified their actions by stating that they had apprehended the editor of the organization and a colleague as part of an ongoing investigation related to India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), an anti-terror law that has been criticized as "draconian."

In February, the offices of the BBC in New Delhi and Mumbai were raided by Indian tax authorities. The authorities accused the BBC of engaging in tax evasion. However, it is worth noting that the raids occurred shortly after the country had banned a documentary produced by the British broadcaster, which portrayed Prime Minister Modi's alleged involvement in deadly riots over two decades ago.

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, V. K. Saxena, stated on Tuesday that the charges of sedition against Roy and her companions had been established, and prosecution has been authorized, pending court approval. The case dates back to 2010 when Roy made remarks during a conference on Kashmir titled "Azadi - the Only Way Ahead." The term "azadi," which signifies freedom or liberation, is commonly employed as a slogan by the Kashmiri independence movement.

The Lieutenant Governor's office stated that the initial complaint accused Roy and her co-defendants of delivering provocative speeches that posed a threat to public security. These speeches suggested that Kashmir was never a part of India and advocated for Kashmiri independence.

Arundhati Roy portrait

Mayank Austen Soofi

Arundhati Roy believes that the harm inflicted upon Indian democracy is irreparable. The individuals accused in this case, Sayed Ali Shah Geelani, a Kashmiri separatist leader, and Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, a lecturer at Delhi University, have passed away since the initial complaint was made. However, Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former international law professor at the Central University of Kashmir, remains implicated in the charges along with Roy.

In her speech from 2010, which was uploaded online, Roy addressed the Kashmiri people's pursuit of justice, particularly concerning the mass exodus of Hindus from Muslim-dominated Kashmir in the early 1990s amidst escalating violence.

For many years, Kashmir has been the focal point of a volatile territorial conflict between India and Pakistan, with both nations asserting their control over the entire mountainous region. Human rights organizations report that hundreds lose their lives each year due to separatist violence in Kashmir.

The BJP campaigned for the revocation of Kashmir's special semi-autonomous status, a move that was ultimately carried out by Modi in 2019. As a result, the former state was divided into two federal territories.

India stated that the purpose of this action was to ensure equality under the nation's laws for all citizens and to promote economic development in the region. Additionally, it aimed to put an end to separatism and terrorism, which India alleged was supported by Pakistan.

The decision, which Pakistan condemned as "illegal," ratcheted up tensions between the two countries and over Kashmir.