Patkar backs Arundhati

By: Varun Singh

Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy has found support from mentor Medha Patkar after her heavily criticised remarks on Kashmir. Roy and Patkar joined hands to protest against the Sardar Sarovar dam project in the Narmada valley.

This, after author-turned-activist Roy made the statement: "Kashmir has never been an integral part of India. It is a historical fact. Even the Indian government has accepted this," at a seminar held in Srinagar alongside Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, earlier this week. Her remarks sparked an outcry and various groups demanded that she be charged with sedition.

Patkar, who says the media has misrepresented Roy's statements, is clear that she "is not a desh-drohi". Currently in the Narmada valley, still protesting against the construction of the dam on the Narmada river, Patkar says, "I haven't yet spoken to her about it, but yes, what I understand is that in her speech, she wanted to make it clear that she is against violence, not only for Kashmir, but also in the North East and other parts of the country."

Ask her how she feels about Roy's statement about the status of Kashmir, and Patkar says, "I do think Kashmir is an integral part of India. We have always been fighting for the right of every village to determine its identity. That doesn't mean we want to distribute the country in parts. But we are against violence."

Roy will no doubt appreciate the support of Patkar in times when everyone seems to have decided it's best if she retracts her statements.