The polemic Arundhati Roy as usual has created another storm by saying Kashmir should get 'Azadi' from India in her own inimitable style at a Delhi seminar sharing the airtime with the Hurriyat leader Geelani. Political parties like BJP and and some in Congress want Arundhati to be booked for sedition .Arundhati has openly talked about her divergent views on many subjects earlier also.Every time she comes out with her views that are deviations from mainstream views of the nation, a serious debate is started at the national level.It is good for the nation that such debates are initiated by Arundhati's bizarre views.Though I do not subscribe to many of her views I have always thought Arundhati's opinions and views are always out-of-the box.A country like India surely needs some one to give such a perspective to every debatable issue.More than anything else she has the courage to openly say what she thinks is right.On the face of it ,many of her views may appear bizarre,but there is always an underlying truth to whatever she says.Look at what she said this time "India needs azadi from Kashmir as much as Kashmir needs from India".She went on to add "Kashmir was never an integral part of India and it is an historical fact". Perhaps this time Arundhati might have crossed her limits and might end up with some legal tangle and charged with sedition.It is argued the freedom of speech guaranteed by constitution should never be used against the country.Should India the world's greatest democracy be tolerant to such criticism by Arundhati Roy ,the booker prize winner ?But see what Arundhati had said about our democracy ?
"India is not a democracy" "Elections do not make democracy" ."Democracy in India is only for the rich and elite ".These are some of Arundhati's flaky comments. Though Arundathi says she does not support violence ,her views on Maoists has alienated her from many of her admirers.But nothing would deter her from experessing her views on them.She went to the extent of calling them more Ghandhian than any other Ghandhian.She says the naxalite violence is a battle between corporate houses and tribals.Corporate houses are trying to gain control over natural resources like minerals, water and forests.She says the "poorest and most malnourished are waging a war against the corporates supported by all the institutions of world's biggest democracy." She has not spared even the media.She says "Earlier, politicians had to pay for good coverage. Now, they have to pay to ensure that they do not get bad coverage. Good coverage is extra fees." Arundhati is surely an enigma and will continue to be so.She has even dared the government to put her in prison for her views on Maoists.
"India is not a democracy" "Elections do not make democracy" ."Democracy in India is only for the rich and elite ".These are some of Arundhati's flaky comments. Though Arundathi says she does not support violence ,her views on Maoists has alienated her from many of her admirers.But nothing would deter her from experessing her views on them.She went to the extent of calling them more Ghandhian than any other Ghandhian.She says the naxalite violence is a battle between corporate houses and tribals.Corporate houses are trying to gain control over natural resources like minerals, water and forests.She says the "poorest and most malnourished are waging a war against the corporates supported by all the institutions of world's biggest democracy." She has not spared even the media.She says "Earlier, politicians had to pay for good coverage. Now, they have to pay to ensure that they do not get bad coverage. Good coverage is extra fees." Arundhati is surely an enigma and will continue to be so.She has even dared the government to put her in prison for her views on Maoists.
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