A major political controversy has erupted after Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena sanctioned the prosecution of Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for a speech she gave about Kashmir 14 years ago. Alongside Roy, Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former professor in Kashmir, is also facing prosecution for allegedly making provocative statements at a 2010 event in Delhi.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly condemned the move, describing it as illogical and draconian. “Condemnable! The Delhi LG has granted permission to prosecute Arundhati Roy under the draconian UAPA for a speech reportedly made 14 years ago – in 2010. Defies logic except the fascist kind. Timing is suspect since courts are on vacation, as are lawyers. Shameful and Condemnable!” the party stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Congress leader Hariprasad B K also criticized the decision, defending Roy as a “brilliant mind, an internationally renowned writer, and a leading intellectual.” He accused the BJP of using fascist tactics to suppress dissent. “Fascism thrives on crushing dissent, particularly from intellectuals, artists, writers, poets & activists. BJP manufacture crises daily to distract and overwhelm dissenters enabling them to divert attention from their failures. This assault on free expression & democratic values is unacceptable,” Hariprasad posted on X.
Similarly, Trinamool MP-elect Mahua Moitra expressed her support for Roy, stating, “If by prosecuting Arundhati Roy under UAPA BJP trying to prove they’re back, well they’re not. And they’ll never be back the same way they were. This kind of fascism is exactly what Indians have voted against.”
In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back, accusing Congress of sympathizing with separatists and terrorists. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla questioned the Congress party’s opposition to the prosecution. “Just now I got to know that LG sir has given sanction to prosecute Arundhati Roy, someone who generally speaks the language of separatism. But why are Congress and its ecosystem restless with the ongoing judicial process? Why are they shedding tears of grief?” he asked in a video message on X.
Poonawalla further alleged that Congress has a history of aligning with separatist ideologies. “Has Congress’ ecosystem already decided that they will stand with all the people belonging to the separatist gang? We saw that Congress party’s leaders said that they will keep supporting SGPI… In one instance Congress stands with SGPI, at other instances their leaders are seen supporting figures like Yakub Menon and Afzal Guru, both declared terrorists by the Supreme Court,” he claimed.
The FIR against Roy and Hussain was registered on October 28, 2010, following a complaint by social activist Sushil Pandit. Last October, the Lt Governor granted permission to prosecute them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 153B (assertions prejudicial to national integration), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).
The controversial event, titled ‘Azadi – The Only Way,’ was held on October 21, 2010, at the Little Theatre Group Auditorium in Delhi. Other speakers included Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani, and Varavara Rao. The event was disrupted by BJP members at the time.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram previously criticized the initial sanction last year, stating, “There was no justification then to register a case against her on the charge of sedition…There is no justification now to sanction prosecution against her.”
