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Journalism of Courage
Condemning the violence during the recently concluded panchayat elections in West Bengal, noted filmmaker Aparna Sen, who had backed Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee during her anti-land acquisition movement against the Left Front government over Nandigram and Singur, on Thursday said “none of us wanted this change”.
“Change was needed (then). What the Left government was doing at that time was very unfair. The goons of the Left parties did not allow people to vote. We have not forgotten it. But we didn’t want this either,” Sen told mediapersons on the sidelines of an event organised by human rights outfit, Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), at Kolkata’s Mahabodhi Society Hall.
At the event, attended by prominent people like educationist Miratun Nahar, an open letter written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was also read out.
“In the last 37 days, 52 people have lost their lives due to the panchayat polls. Many people are missing. As Chief Minister and Home Minister of West Bengal you (CM Mamata Banerjee) cannot deny this responsibility in any way. Without denying the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission, it can be said that the responsibility for the current anarchy lies mainly with the West Bengal government and you. The central forces and the Election Commission have to depend on the local administration,” the letter stated.
“Let the government elected by the people take the responsibility of protecting the lives, livelihood, and property of the people of the state by immediately introducing an impartial administrative system in this blood-bathed West Bengal,” it said.
Human rights activists Bolan Gangopadhyay and painter Samir Aich were among the other signatories of the letter.
Later speaking at the event, Aparna Sen also hit out at other political parties, calling them as corrupt.
“There is no democracy left in this country. After a few days, it may not even be possible to talk like this. I am talking about all the political parties, including the ruling party of our state. And those who are not corrupt, they don’t win any seats.”
When asked about her relationship with the Trinamool, Sen said: “I have never met Mamata Banerjee personally. Because I did not want to be associated with a political party. I wanted the change. She got votes, so she became the chief minister. I have gone to the Nandan film festival. Nandan is made from our tax money. But as chief minister, we should be able to seek justice from her.”
Reacting to Sen’s remarks, TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Shantanu Sen said, “Aparna Devi should recall that it wasn’t like there was less violence in elections during the Left Front era. But because Trinamool is tolerant and does not do politics of revenge, even after 12 years in power, more Trinamool workers have died in the polls.”
BJP’s national vice-president Dilip Ghosh also took a potshot at Sen. “She is condemning all political parties. Is everyone good in the film industry? Not everyone is bad in politics either,” he said.
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