New Delhi:
The Home Ministry has told the Delhi Police that a case of sedition can be registered against hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy for purportedly giving "hate speeches" at a seminar in the capital last week.
The BJP had attacked the government for looking the other way while the seminar was on saying no one had a right to break up the country. At the convention Geelani shared the stage with writer Arundhati Roy and pro-Maoist leader Vara Vara Rao among others.
"Freedom of speech is a fundamental right, no doubt, but you can't be speaking so much against the country and in such a tone, meaning to excite people who are working against this country," said Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP Spokesperson.
Geelani, however, says the FIR will not make much of a difference. "Already 90 FIRs have been registered against me, this will be the 91st," he said.
Roy, who was in Srinagar yesterday, said that Kashmir was historically not a part of India and accused the government of being a colonising power after independence. (
Read: Arundhati Roy's statement)
Both Geelani and Roy's comments are well known. Yet, coming in the midst of the Centre's peace efforts in the Valley, these have triggered a ferocious controversy on freedom of speech: Just how far can they go? (
Read: Geelani, Roy remarks 'unfortunate', says Moily)
"I think people should realise that their freedom of expression must not be construed by other people as abuse of that freedom. If the lines have been crossed, that is being seen and then whatever action needs to be taken will be taken. But I stand for the freedom of expression for all citizens," said Dilip Padgaonkar, Centre's Interlocutor for Kashmir.
There's no case against either as of now, but the issue has already thrown up fundamental questions on the freedom of speech, famously summarised by political philosopher Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."