Booker Prize winner Arudhanti Roy on Sunday faced strong protests from Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists on her arrival here in the city to attend a function organised by Nissan, a publication house, and a few pro-Left organisations.
At least 11 ABVP activists, who showed black flags and tried to “manhandle” the writer, were immediately taken into custody by police deployed at meeting place, deputy commissioner of police said
The incident occurred when Ms Roy got down from her vehicle at Sahid Smaraki ground and was being led to the dais by eminent human rights activist Prafulla Samantara and Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti president Abhay Sahoo. A large number of activists ABVP activists staged demonstration at the entry, shouting slogans against the writer-activist and asking her to leave the venue immediately. They showed placards branding the writer as “anti-national” for her recent remarks that “Kashmir is not an integral part of India.”
When the AVBP activists tried to prevent her path by standing at the entrance, the organisers asked them to leave the place. This led to clash between both sides. They attacked each other with lathis. At least five people were injured in the conflict. “We opposed the visit of Arundhati as she made objectionable statement on Kashmir. We have nothing against the meeting. She should go back from here,” ABVP state executive member Ajay Kumar Sahu said. The meeting was convened to debate on the subject — “Cultural resistance to war on people in corporate interests.”
Ms Roy, while addressing the gathering, made some remarks that may well drag her to a fresh controversy. “Jo Sambidhana ka kanun todte hain, woh hain hamara Prime Minister, woh hai hamara home minister, police, woh hain CRPF and BSF. Jo Sambidhan ke kanun ki rakshya karneke liye ladhte hain, unko kahete hain atankbadi, Maobadi. Pura jo mamala hai, woh abhi ulta ho gaya hai. (Those who are breaking the Constitutional provisions are our Prime Minister, our home minister, the police, the CRPF and the BSF. On the other hand, those who are fighting to uphold the Constitution are being branded as terrorists and Maoists. The situation has been reversed).
Revolutionary poet Varavara Rao, who also addressed the gathering, demanded for immediate halt in anti-Maoist operations in the state and withdrawal of CRPF and BSF jawans.
Meanwhile, PPSS president Abhay Sahoo, while condemning the assault attack on Ms Roy, said “nobody can suppress the freedom of expression the writer enjoys.”
The situation was controlled after police swung into action, dispersing the demonstrators. Eight of them were arrested, deputy commissioner of police H.K. Lal said.
Accusing the police of remaining mute spectator, one of the organisers, Biswapriya Kanungo said the clash could have been averted. “Their real intention is not to oppose Arundhati Roy, but to disrupt the meeting at the behest of corporate houses,” he said.