Kannada actor-politician Ramya draws flak for 'Pakistan not hell' remark, faces sedition case

Kannada actor-politician Ramya (Divya Spandana) is facing sedition case for praising Pakistan after attending a SAARC Young Parliamentarians Conference in Islamabad recently. 

Ramya, 33, who is a member of Congress since 2011, was referring to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statement that "going to Pakistan is like going to hell" as she said, "Pakistan is not hell. People there are just like us. They treated us very well."

Ramya has drawn flak from political activists, who are calling her "anti-national". Moreover, a sedition case has also been filed by a lawyer against Ramya in a court in Kodagu in southern Karnataka.

The lawyer, Katnamane Vittal Gowda, has reportedly said that he was "appalled" by Ramya’s praise for Pakistan. Ramya has also been trolled on Twitter for her controversial remarks.

Meanwhile, industrialist and Chairman of Steel major Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) Naveen Jindal has come out in support of Ramya on Twitter, saying "they are more hospitable than us."

"Have myself experienced the hospitality of Pak shopkeepers as member of Indian shooting team for SAF games; they are more hospitable than us," Mr Jindal wrote on Twitter.

"This is absurd. Why should one not praise the hospitality of neighbouring countries?" he wrote.

This is absurd. Why should one not praise the hospitality of neighbouring countries? https://t.co/ZSglhmaFUJ

— Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) August 23, 2016

Have myself experienced the hospitality of Pak shopkeepers as member of Indian shooting team for SAF games; they are more hospitable than us

— Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) August 23, 2016