Government should talk to Maoists: Mahasweta Devi
By IANSWednesday, April 7, 2010
KOLKATA - A day after Maoists massacred 76 security personnel in Chhattisgarh, eminent writer and Magsaysay award winner Mahasweta Devi Wednesday said the government should immediately go for talks with the rebels.
“I don’t support violence and killings. I am against any kind of violence and killings. The government should immediately sit for talks with the Maoists and scrap Operation Green Hunt. This operation will not help in solving the Maoist menace. It will only increase the oppression of tribals and I am against it,” Mahasweta Devi told IANS.
She said she had reliable information that the joint security forces operations in Lalgarh and adjoining areas of West Midnapore district of West Bengal - with the aim of flushing out Maoists - were wreaking havoc on tribals.
“I have confirmed information on the havoc the joint forces are perpetrating on the tribals. The tribals are not able to go to work to earn their livelihood. There are so many leaders in our country. Why are they not coming up with the proposal for talks with the Maoists? The government should be more active in bringing the Maoists to the table,” she said.
The rebels killed 75 Central Reserve Police Force troopers and a Chhattisgarh policeman in Dantewada district Tuesday in the worst ever attack by the Maoists.
