Ramya won’t say sorry for ‘Pakistan not hell’ remark

Caught in an ugly controversy over her remarks that “Pakistan is not hell, people there are just like us”, actress and Congress politician Ramya stuck to her views and ruled out any apology. The former Mandya MP had visited Islamabad as part of a Saarc young MPs’ delegation, and made the remarks at a meeting in her constituency.

While the BJP called her remarks “anti-national” the actress stood her ground. “I don’t think I’m wrong. It’s also our duty to speak on inclusiveness and peace.”

A Karnataka lawyer filed a private complaint against her in a Kodagu district court, seeking action against her on sedition and other charges. The controversy cropped up afresh amid a row over a case filed against Amnesty India over anti-national and anti-Army slogans raised at a Bengaluru event recently.

The Congress, meanwhile, sought to turn the tables on the BJP saying that if desiring better ties with Pakistan was sedition, the first case should be filed against PM Modi, “who made an impromptu stopover for festivities with the Pakistan Premier”.