Statement on Arundhati Roy and Kashmir

VIDUTHALAI CHIRUTHAIGAL KATCHI
R-62, 2nd Avenue, T.N.H.B. Qtrs., 
Velachery, Chennai - 600 042.

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Thol. THIRUMAAVALAVAN                                                                           
President, VCK
Member of Parliament,
Chidambaram Constituency, Tamilnadu

                                          Defend Ms Arundhati Roy

We strongly condemn the alleged attempts of the central government to stifle the voice of the world famous writer and activist Ms Arundhati Roy for her stand on Kashmir. It is a shame that the Congress government is doing this to satisfy BJP.

It is a well known fact that the most of the people of Kashmir demand independence. Their agitation became intensified after the Shopian incident where two muslim women were brutally raped and murdered.  I was a part of the all party delegation which has visited Kashmir under the leadership of the Honorable Home Minister of India. Many Kashmiris openly demanded “freedom from the Indian Occupation “and declared it before our delegation. Even the Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has recently remarked that the State had only acceded to, and not merged with, the Indian Union.

I have insisted greater autonomy for the people of Kashmir and immediate repeal of the infamous ‘Armed Forces Special Powers Act’ during the two meetings held before Smt . Sonia Gandhi and Mr P.Chidambaram. I have read the reported speech and the statement issued by Ms Arundhati Roy. I find nothing offensive or seditious in it. It is only an echo of the aspirations of the Kashmir people and the democratic intellectuals of our country. It shows only the democratic spirit of a public intellectual. I appreciate Ms Roy for her timely intervention in breaking the icy silence on Kashmir problem.

Viduthalai Chiruththaikal Katchi(VCK) – a party of downtrodden and minorities have fully support Ms Roy and express our solidarity to her. We invite all the democratic forces and intellectuals of the Nation to stand with her in her fight for freedom of expression.