3 min readJul 26, 2011 12:45 AM IST
First published on: Jul 26, 2011 at 12:45 AM IST
I know there is no fundamental right to be published in a paper,and I am grateful to you for carrying my piece. I have no doubt that if left entirely to Shekhar Gupta (editor-in-chief),it would not have appeared at all.
The reason I wanted my article on the judgment to be carried in the Express is because it has consistently been running a campaign against the SC order on Salwa Judum. I was saddened,but not surprised to see it carried at the bottom of the page and given 850 words when anti-judgment articles and people like Ashutosh Varshney (‘Rethink the communal violence bill’,IE,July 16) are given huge space. While I could have understood the space I was given if the topic was outdated or I was just another commentator and not the lead petitioner in the judgment,the fact that you have carried an article by Subhomoy Bhattacharjee today (‘The camps and the spotters’,IE,July 23) shows clear bias.
I have been told by many people that one should never write for the Express because that legitimises what is fast becoming recognised as a right wing pro-BJP paper. I have always tried,however,to have faith in the professionalism of institutions and individual journalists.
However,the reason I write is because of the deceit and ignorance shown by Bhattacharjee. If there is a humanitarian crises,it is in the villages of Bastar and refugee camps in AP which have been starved of all resources precisely because all funds meant for these areas have been transferred to Salwa Judum camps and because people have been driven from their homes. The only hope for this area is to close down camps,disband SPOs,punish the guilty and begin peace talks.
I am sending the link to a report sent by a local NGO in AP (http://www.scribd.com/ doc /60857774/P12-About-a-Tribal-Family-Came-From-Chattisgarh). This is only one of the many photos and multiple other pieces of evidence we have of humanitarian crises. I don’t expect the Express to change its stance or for any of you to be moved by this story — but I do want to put on record my disgust.
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