Intellectuals urge Mamata to expedite peace process

In last two weeks,this is the second such open letter which is signed by the intellectuals including Tarun Sanyal,Varavara Rao,Nabarun Bhattacharya (author and son of MahashwetaMahashweta Devi),SAR Geelani,Saroj Giri,G N Saibaba (a professor with Delhi University),Rona Wilson (secretary of the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners),Gautam Navlakha of the People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR),Jadavpur University professor Amit Bhattacharya. Significantly,the last open letter was signed by both Mahashweta Devi and theatre personality Bibhas Chakraborty who advocated for the change earlier before elections. However,they are not among the signatories in the the letter sent to the CM on Thursday.

Apart from urging the government to expedite the peace process,the intellectuals have criticised the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s post-election role in regard to resolving the problem of Junglemahal. They have also criticised her for using inappropriate language for Maoists in her public meeting in Junglemahal on October 14.

In the context of the Maoist offer for cessation of armed action,there was an expectation of some declaration on the withdrawal of joint forces and release of political prisoners and of course the need for a dialogue with the Maoists,read the letter.

“While sidestepping the central issue of the categorical ceasefire offer given by the Maoists,the castigation of the Maoists as ‘supari killers’(contract killers) and ‘jungle mafia’ has vitiated the atmosphere. It made matters worse by betraying the seriousness and understanding that Mamata Banerjee as a Chief Minister wanted everyone to believe her government has while dealing with the issues related to the Maoist movement,” the letter further reads.

Significantly,the letter has also doubted if the review committee formed by the chief minister for releasing the political prisoners would be able to perform. “The review committee recommended the release of 78 political prisoners in the first phase and you deleted some names(all Maoist prisoners) from that list on August 15. Then two other names were deleted(again Maoist prisoners) by you. And none of them was released by the withdrawal of cases. We wonder whether the pre-election promises made by you were meant to be broken,” states the letter.