“Mr Modi, hands off Arundhati Roy,” former Greek Finance Minister tells Indian PM
New Delhi: Greek politician and former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has expressed solidarity with acclaimed Indian author Arundhati Roy following Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena's decision to grant prosecution sanctions against her in the 2010 provocative speeches case.
In a powerful message addressed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Varoufakis defended Roy as "India’s, and perhaps the world’s, finest author," urging the authorities to refrain from taking any action against her.
“Mr Modi, hands off Arundhati Roy, India's, and perhaps the world's, finest author.” He wrote in his tweet.
The recent development arose after Delhi LG Saxena approved the prosecution against Roy and former Kashmiri professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain in the case related to provocative speeches made in 2010. The case was filed following a complaint by Kashmiri social activist Sushil Pandit, who alleged that several individuals, including Roy and Hussain, delivered inflammatory speeches at a conference titled "Azadi – The Only Way." Organized by the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP) on October 21, 2010, at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, Delhi.
Although two other accused individuals, Sayed Ali Shah Geelani and Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, have passed away during the case's pendency, the legal proceedings against Roy and Hussain have continued. The case falls under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. However, the LG did not grant sanctions for prosecution against the deceased accused under this specific section due to the Supreme Court's directive to keep all pending trials under Sedition at abeyance.
Varoufakis shared The Guardian article reporting on the legal action against Roy, emphasizing her significance as an author and urging the Indian government to refrain from any punitive measures.
Mr Modi, hands off Arundhati Roy, India's, and perhaps the world's, finest author. https://t.co/iyLbU2kKyz
— Yanis Varoufakis (@yanisvaroufakis) October 10, 2023
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Efforts of party cadres will be rewarded on May 4: DMK chief Stalin
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday said that the efforts made by his party cadres during the Assembly elections would be rewarded on May 4.
The counting of votes for the Assembly elections held on April 23 will be taken up on May 4.
"We are set to reap the rewards of the hard work put in by our party cadres on the coming fourth (May 4 counting day). There is absolutely no change in this and not even the slightest deviation," Stalin said at a May Day event here.
"There is no need for anyone to assume that I am speaking merely on the basis of exit polls," he added.
Stalin, who is also DMK chief, said that "good news" would come for those eagerly waiting for the election results.
Stating that the DMK governance is based on philosophy and principles, Stalin said, "This will continue."
He recalled the pivotal role of the then Chief Minister C N Annadurai, who first declared May Day as a government holiday, and subsequently, late CM M Karunanidhi, who was instrumental in extending it as a paid holiday across the nation.
"Responding to the request of Kalaingnar (Karunanidhi), the then Prime Minister V P Singh accepted the plea and declared it (May 1) a paid government holiday not merely for Tamil Nadu, but for the entire nation," Stalin said.
