Mahasweta’s allegation

KOLKATA, 4 MAY: Magsaysay award winner Mahasweta Devi today alleged that hired goons were being used by owners for polluting illegal stone quarry units in Birbhum against the innocent tribals who are protesting against pollution. Speaking to the reporters at Press Club, she demanded arrest of the goons operating in the area. 

Source: The Statesman 5 May 2010

http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=327011&catid=42

Mahasweta Devi rallies for Lalgarh tribals

12 July 2009, Kolkata

Author Mahasweta Devi led a rally in protest against the presence of security forces in Lalgarh on Saturday. Besides intellectuals like Sunando Sanyal and Pratul Mukhopadhyay, members of nearly 60 other organisations, including the Bhoomi Ucched Pratirodh Committee, were present
in the rally.
“Why are the Central and state forces suddenly taking action against the people of Lalgarh, when for so many years nothing was done? For over three decades the government did nothing for the people, there has been absolutely no development in the area,” she said.
The author, who has lived and worked among the tribals for many years, added that they were still among the poorest people in the state.
“They don’t have BPL cards and do not get rice at the minimum rate. Now the government is trying to sell their land by giving them false promises of jobs and a secure future. The government is curbing all the protests in the area since they want to project a picture of calm to the Jindals,” she said.

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/mahasweta-devi-rallies-for-lalgarh-tribals/488218/

Mahasweta Devi condemned the para-military operation and state repression in Lalgarh

[In a press release, noted writer, Magsaysay awardee and social worker Mahasweta Devi condemned the para-military operation and state repression in Lalgarh. We publish the English translation and the original Bengali press release.]

Stop Repression in Whole Junglemahal Including Lalgarh

Snatching the natural resources from People of Binpu 1 and Binpur 2, two regions of West Midnapur district, which are surrounded by hills and jungles, the constitutional government of West Bengal, has been depriving the people from all civil rights. Not only has the scarcity of health-education-food, the government always has kept the dignity and rights of people under its feet. On protest, severely cornered People have demanded the remedy. With empty promises and ugly-false-propaganda the government tried to stop the spontaneous movement of Jangalmahal. Failing to do so, the government has brought shameless state repression against the people. We have noted with surprise and shame that the government has almost declared war against a section of people of our country. We deeply condemn the heinous para-military operation of the government. We demand that government must immediately withdraw all repressive measures, and accept all demands of the people for dignity and development.

We do believe that in the sphere of repression the voice of common down trodden people is being suppressed. We appeal to the both sides to sit in the discussion retraining from all clashes.


Mahasweta Devi
(On behalf of democratic citizens)

22 June 2009
Kolkata