Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Even as the Centre mulls action against Arundhati Roy for her anti-India tirade, the celebrated writer remained defiant Tuesday by stressing that she is only seeking justice.
In a statement issued from Srinagar, Roy claimed that she is only saying what Kashmiris say everyday and that the stand she has taken is similar what different commentators have been taking for years on the issue.
Sounding unperturbed by all the controversy surrounding her rant against the Indian state, Roy, while referring to the reports suggesting that she may arrested on sedition charges, said, “Anybody who cares to read the transcripts of my speeches will see that they were fundamentally a call for justice”.
“In the papers some have accused me of giving 'hate-speeches', of wanting India to break up. On the contrary, what I say comes from love and pride,” she added.
Questioning the stand taken by the government, Roy opined that the nation is trying to ‘silence writers who speak their mind’.
Meanwhile, amid reports that the Delhi Police is ready to file a case against Arundhati Roy and Kashmiri separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani for their alleged anti-India speeches, Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily has termed their statements as “unfortunate”.
"Yes, there is freedom of speech...it can't violate the patriotic sentiments of the people," he said.
Union Minister Farooq Abdullah has also castigated Roy for her speech and strongly criticised her for misusing her freedom of speech
“Country has given them that freedom, it is for them to realise what is right and what is wrong,” he said.
First Published: Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 14:22