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Indian actor faces sedition case for saying 'Pakistan is not hell'

Her remarks come after the Indian defence minister said 'going to Pakistan is like going to hell'

News Desk August 23, 2016

PHOTO: TWITTER

A sedition case has been filed against actor-politician Divya Spandana for "anti-national" comments.

"Pakistan is not hell. People there are just like us. They treated us very well," she had said after attending a South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) event. Her statement came after Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's recently remarked that "going to Pakistan is like going to hell."

Going to Pakistan same as 'going to hell', says Indian defence minister

Katnamane Vittal Gowda, a lawyer filed the complaint against Spandana. He said he was "appalled" by her statement, which he dubbed "anti-national". The Kannada actor, who has been associated with the Indian National Congress since 2011, had visited Islamabad in connection with a SAARC meeting of young parliamentarians.

In reaction to the filed complaint, Spandana, who goes by the name Ramya, asserted that there was "no question of apologising" and that she was "entitled to freedom of speech."

While Kashmir burns, Indian PM rakes up Balochistan

"It's important that the sedition law gets repealed. [I] didn't do anything wrong. Pakistanis are good people, just like us," she said, adding that she did not blame anyone because "people are very passionate about nationalism".

#EXCLUSIVE | No question of apologising for praising Pakistan: Actress @divyaspandana to CNN-News18 on the sedition complaint
— News18 (@CNNnews18) August 23, 2016

#EXCLUSIVE I'm entitled to freedom of speech. Nobody can curb it: @divyaspandana to CNN-News18 on sedition complaint pic.twitter.com/XVlUm9QCjS
— News18 (@CNNnews18) August 23, 2016

Earlier, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had criticised Pakistan and said visiting the nation was like “going to hell”. His remarks came amid rising tensions between the neighbouring states.

Many took to Twitter in support for the actress.

I support #ramya ,#Pakistan is nice and people are nice. Only few mulla army, and some haters made hell like situation in Pakistan.
— Unknown (@mdammalli) August 23, 2016

Sedition rapidly becoming the most popular legal clause for out-of-work desh bhakts: https://t.co/l1LSF7EwFF
— Sukumar Muralidharan (@sukumar_md) August 23, 2016

How is saying 'Pak is not hell' sedition?V hv pbm wit Pak leadership & military,not wit its ppl & country @divyaspandana #ramya @IndiaToday
— Priyansh Maru (@MaruPriyansh) August 23, 2016

Making a mockery of the Sedition case by filing it against Ramya. Courts, which have lakhs of genuine cases pending 4 years, r bogged down.
— Rasheed Kappan (@kappansky) August 23, 2016

https://twitter.com/AMadumoole/status/767957096683958272

This article originally appeared on Scroll

COMMENTS (21)

Saleem Shahid | 8 years ago | Reply Bravo! Ramaya's objectivity is a slap on the monstrous face of Modi and his toady Manohar Parrikar. Shame on those who file sedition case against Ramaya

wb | 8 years ago | Reply @سے Shaam (Hanafi): 1) Sedition doesn't mean not towing government line. 2) Besides government never said, Pakistan is an enemy state. 3) Calling Pakistanis nice people is not trash talk. Nor is it seditious. 4) The case won't stand, because it is beyond ridiculous. It's retarded. 5) The very idea that someone thinks of treason for saying Pakistanis are like us and nice people is literally mentally retarded. One really has to see a doctor.

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سے Shaam (Hanafi) | 8 years ago | Reply @wb: Being a congress worker, and a MP (2013-2014), it was expected that she would not tow the central government line on “enemy state” and hence sedition charge for siding with enemy state (This act was not created by BJP but by Congress party itself). She can fight it staying out of jail. She is lucky not to have been booked under treason. Freedom comes with responsibility and not by talking trash and mortifying your own elected government(s) stance. I agree on account of Khan Brigade actors & ors they are nothing short of obnoxious and cheap monkeys.

wb | 8 years ago | Reply @Rollin & Trollin: India is not secular. India is Islamist.

wb | 8 years ago | Reply @سے Shaam (Hanafi): Why is she a low life actress? She's actually better than shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aishwarya RAi and Rajini Kanth combined. The points are: it actually doesn't matter even if this was said by the PM of India. That's why a sedition case is utterly stupid.

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply If the news as reported is true..........its simply sad.

hamza khan | 8 years ago | Reply our problem is also with veggie eater modi and your hindu RSS run govt not with people. get over yourselves.

hamza khan | 8 years ago | Reply the modi toadies are going to be out soon. hahahaha...

Asif Butt | 8 years ago | Reply Thank you Divya and all other supporting Indians. This is an act of "TRUTH". The real India is its open minded and open hearted Indians. Similarly the real Pakistan is its open minded and open hearted Pakistanis. Hate mongers need to be sidelined.

Pakistani-Khi | 8 years ago | Reply @jay: How do you know? Did you live in Pak for some time ? You people are nothing but bunch of false posters on internet. False information About Pakistan and False information about your Country as well.

سے Shaam (Hanafi) | 8 years ago | Reply Does it really matter, what a low life actress thinks or does not think about Pakistan. When your own citizens and Americans call you Cancer on face of this World.

JHJanjua | 8 years ago | Reply yes TP, all pretty female from India should deported to Pakistan.

Asad | 8 years ago | Reply @vinsin: Yes it's sickular!

vinsin | 8 years ago | Reply @Rollin & Trollin: India is not secular.

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Respect for the lady. She's just being a decent human being.

Bol | 8 years ago | Reply Small and petty heart of India.

BrainBro | 8 years ago | Reply Xenophobic nationalism is picking up pace in India which is not at all healthy for it.

AD | 8 years ago | Reply @Rollin & Trollin: She is known for her acting skills and this is another drama. Sedition case for this particular statement is bogus and you will find out soon. Besides it is her personal opinion and need not necessarily align with public opinion. Now go and ask your government that has filed Sedition cases against Baloch Ieaders.

Tp | 8 years ago | Reply She should be 'deported' to Pakistan for lying !!

Rollin & Trollin | 8 years ago | Reply And Indians don't want anyone to question their so-called democratic and secular credentials !?! Go figure..,.

jay | 8 years ago | Reply Well let her have it send her there when she comes back she will kiss mother India!

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