No apology for Pak comment, says Ramya
CHENNAI: A Karnataka lawyer has approached a court demanding sedition charges against actressturned-politician Ramya for praising Pakistan, triggering a controversy with many saying the colonial-era law is being used to curb free speech.
Ramya, a Congress leader, visited Islamabad last week for a meeting of young parliamentarians from the Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) nations. On her return, she said she didn’t agree with defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who recently compared Pakistan to hell .
“Pakistan is not hell; people there are just like us. They treated us very well,” she told reporters.
Lawyer Katnamane Vittal Gowda was “appalled” by Ramya’s comment and moved a court in Somwarpet on Monday against the 33-year-old leader. The court will hear the case on August 27.
Ramya, however, has maintained that she will not apologise for her remark. “I don’t think I am wrong. It’s freedom of speech. It is also our duty to speak on inclusiveness and peace. Curbing freedoms is wrong in a democracy,” she told news agency ANI.
Parrikar while addressing a gathering in Haryana’s Rewari district on August 16 had said, “Yesterday, our soldiers sent back five terrorists. Going to Pakistan is the same as going to hell.” Ramya disagreed with the minister’s comment, saying politicians wanted to spread hatred.
“Everybody is entitled to their views and that is what democracy is about, you can’t force your ideology on anyone. It is really sad but such is the situation in the country today,” she told ANI.
Meanwhile, the Congress said if wanting better ties with Pakistan was sedition then the first case should be lodged against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The entire country wants a better relationship between India and Pakistan. Certain elements in BJP and RSS are unnecessarily trying to gain cheap publicity by polluting,” party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.
He said the PM made an “impromptu stopover for festivities” with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
“The second case should be filed against BJP veteran LK Advani for praising Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah,” Surjewala said. “Such cases should also be filed against all former Prime Ministers, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, for advocating peace between India and Pakistan.”
Surjewala advised BJP and its leaders to refrain from playing petty politics.
Everybody is entitled to their views and that is what democracy is about, you cannot force your ideology on anyone. It is really sad but such is the situation in the country today. RAMYA, Congress leader