The Hindu : New Delhi News : Eminent people, activists back Arundhati Roy

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Friday, Apr 23, 2010
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Eminent people, activists back Arundhati Roy

Special Correspondent

Her article on Green Hunt has come under police scanner

Arundhati Roy

NEW DELHI: A number of eminent persons and well-known activists have rallied to the support of writer Arundhati Roy, whose article on Operation Green Hunt has come under the scanner of the Chhattisgarh police.

They have issued a public statement condemning the threatened action by the State's Director-General of Police, who “is reported to be seriously examining whether Ms. Roy should be prosecuted under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA)/Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for having written the article ‘Walking with the Comrades,' which was published by Outlook magazine recently.”

“Precisely because the account provides the perspective of the Maoists, it is a very valuable account, one that the people of the country need to hear,” said the statement, adding that such articles could contribute to a properly informed decision on dealing with the Maoist challenge.

The signatories also felt the government itself should have taken the initiative to elicit such inputs on Maoist activities from diverse sources.

“Whether or not one agrees with the writer, a country which prides itself as a democracy must allow the free and honest expression of such views,” the statement said, making it clear that any attempt to stifle such expression on pain of prosecution would violate the freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution.

“Given its disquieting record of persecuting local journalists and activists for daring to stray from the official line, any attempt to book Arundhati Roy for her article would confirm the government's determination to choke off dissenting voices,” it added.

Thirty-five people have signed the statement, including JNU professor emeritus Amit Bhaduri, biotechnologist P.M. Bhargava, former secretary to the government E.A.S. Sarma, social scientist Jean Dreze and journalist Karan Thapar.

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