Whatever the weaknesses of our government maybe, one thing is commendable that it has given the people of Pakistan as well as the media the free right of speech. In India the so-called biggest democracy of the world, speaking against the government or criticizing its policies is a sin. It is evident from the evil wave of atrocities through which the award winning writer, scholar and a human right activist Arundhati Roy is passing through. Her only crime is that she has supported in equivocal terms the right of self-determination for the people of Kashmir who have laid down thousands of lives for the independence of their state. As a punishment her house was attacked by the elements of BJP. Verbal attacks on Roy began with her participation in a Delhi meeting on October 21 followed by a public appearance in Srinagar in which she expressed her views by saying that 'Kashmir has never been an integral part of India. Factually speaking, there is nothing wrong in what she said. It is a fact acknowledged by the United Nations and accepted by a lot of people in India itself. The worst is the pro-government medias call for charging the lady under the law dealing with sedition. While we must condemn India for victimizing her, we should appreciate Ms Roys courage to speak which is by no means less than that that possessed by Aung San Suu Kyi of Mayanmar. RAFI NASIM, Lahore, November 7.