India Waging War Against Its Own People In Kashmir, Goa, Punjab Since 1947: Arundhati Roy In Viral Video

Renowned author and activist Arundhati Roy has ignited a firestorm of criticism following her controversial remarks alleging that the Indian state has "perpetually waged war" on its own citizens since gaining independence in 1947.

In a resurfaced video that has gone viral on social media, Roy asserts that regions such as Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Telangana, Punjab, Goa, and Hyderabad have been subjected to military action by the Indian government, which she characterizes as an "upper caste Hindu state perpetually at war."

Roy further claimed that, unlike India, Pakistan has not deployed its military against its own people. She argued that India, despite being a democracy, has repeatedly used its army against marginalized communities, including tribals in the Northeast and Telangana, Muslims in Kashmir and Hyderabad, Christians in Goa, and Sikhs in Punjab.

The video was shared by writer Anand Ranganathan on X (formerly Twitter), who ridiculed Roy's assertions with the caption, "When irresistible weed meets immovable hallucination." He also criticized her interpretation of the 1961 liberation of Goa, suggesting she framed it as a communal conflict rather than a strategic military operation.

Former Indian Foreign Secretary and current JNU Chancellor Kanwal Sibal joined the chorus of condemnation, reposting Ranganathan's video and lambasting Roy's statements as "venomous against her own country" and "deeply anti-Hindu."

Sibal accused Roy of supporting terrorism and promoting a distorted, communal narrative. He challenged her claim about Pakistan's military conduct by citing several Pakistani operations against its own citizens, including Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan (2014), Operation Rahat-e-Nijat in South Waziristan (2009), and the 2006 offensive in Balochistan that led to the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti. He also referenced the ongoing Operation Azm-e-Istehkam launched in June 2024.

Social media users echoed Sibal's outrage, with many accusing Roy of historical revisionism and demanding punitive action, including revocation of her citizenship. Critics described her comments as hypocritical and inflammatory, suggesting that she deliberately makes provocative statements to remain in the public eye.
The controversy has reignited debates around freedom of expression, nationalism, and the role of intellectuals in shaping public discourse, with Roy once again at the center of a polarizing storm.