‘PM pushing country into war-like situation’: Arundhati Roy

Activist Arundhati Roy addressing a public meeting in Tiruchi on Saturday. M. Moorthy  

Arundhati Roy accuses Modi of raking up ‘manufactured sentiments’ of national pride among the people

Activist and writer Arundhati Roy on Saturday alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre was manoeuvring to push the country into a war-like situation ahead of the general election by raking up “manufactured sentiments” of national pride among the people.

Speaking at a meeting on ‘Corporate and Saffron Fascism’ organised by the Makkal Adhikaram here, Ms. Roy described the recent attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir as “yet another terrible chapter in the unfolding tragedy of Kashmir”. But it had sadly led to corporate media and the ruling dispensation launching a propaganda campaign to rake up “manufactured sentiments” of national pride among the people. “The country might be poised on the edge of a war with Pakistan or more likely against the people of Kashmir,” Ms. Roy warned.

‘Myriad oppressions’

She said the Modi government was making moves to push the country into a war-like situation to make the people forget, in a moment of “manufactured national pride”, the myriad oppressions the current regime had inflicted on them. It should not be allowed, she said, and alleged that every institution — banks, media, courts, education and armed forces — had come under threat under the Modi government.

She said the Modi government had promised to create two crore jobs every year. But unemployment was skyrocketing. One per cent of rich Indians had wealth equivalent to the combined wealth of 71% of the population. The net worth of two Indian citizens had increased by 125% in 2017 alone. It was a classic example of inequality.

Citing a recent judgment of the Supreme Court, she said that about 20 lakh tribes living in forests were facing eviction. It was argued that this was being done to safeguard forest lands. But the same logic was not applied when thousands of forest lands were destroyed for building dams, industries and infrastructure.

Advocate Balan, State coordinator of Makkal Adhikaram C. Raju and Editor of Urimai Tamil Desam Thiyagu spoke during the event.