Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has granted sanctions to prosecute Arundhati Roy and former Professor of International Law in Central University of Kashmir, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, under section 45 (1) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), for allegedly making “provocative statements” during a conference that happened in 2010.
What is Section 45 (1) of UAPA?
Section 45 (1) of the UAPA gives power to the Central Government to sanction prosecution for offenses under the UAPA. It is also known as anti-terror law. Its primary objective is to prevent unlawful activities that are against the national integrity and sovereignty of the country.
Allegations on Arundhati Roy and Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain
The alleged ‘provocative statements’ were made by Arundhati Roy and Dr. Hussain regarding the Kashmir issue during a conference organized under the banner of “Azadi — The Only Way” on 21 October 2010, at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi. Following which, a complaint was filed by Sushil Pandit, a Kashmiri Hindu social activist, on 28 October 2010, under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before the Magistrate Court.
Arundhati Roy to be prosecuted under UAPA for this speech of 2010. pic.twitter.com/q64az3SWC7
— ✎𝒜 πundhati🌵🍉🇵🇸 (@Polytikles) June 14, 2024
“Kashmir is not an integral part of India, and it never was”: Arundhati Roy
According to the video footage, while responding to Kashmir’s status, Roy said, “Kashmir has never been an integral part of India. However aggressively and however often you want to ask me that, even the Indian government has accepted that it is not an integral part of India.”
Other speakers at the conference include Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani, and Varavara Rao.
Last October, LG Saxena, granted prosecution of Roy and Hussain under Section 196 of the CrPC for the offences punishable under IPC 153 A, 153 B, and 505.
What does IPC 153 A, 153 B, and 505 mean?
- 153A. Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.
- 153B. Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration.
- 505. Statement conducing to public mischief.
About Arundhati Roy
Arundhati Roy is a renowned writer, essayist, and political activist, who is best known for her novel “The God of Small Things,” which won the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1997. She is also recognised for her critical voice on political and social concerns in India. In addition to it, she strongly advocates human rights and environmental justice.
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