While politically West Bengal lay quiet barring a few initiatives by small groups of human rights activists on the issue of Hazare and UPA II trying to gag it, Mahashweta Devi on Wednesday joined protest against the `treatment meted out to Anna Hazare.’
A Jnanpith and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, recently more famous for leading a sustained campaign against the last CPI(M)-led government’s forcible land acquisition policy in Singur and Nandigram, Mahashweta told DNA, reacting to developments in Delhi, "I protest and under no circumstances, I would support the treatment meted out to Anna Hazare.’’
When asked if she was thinking of lodging a formal protest, 85-year-old Mahashweta said: "I protest vehemently against what is happening, but please note that I am a diabetic patient and have to abide by very strict discipline though my illness could not defeat my determination. ``And I am lodging a serious protest against how they (UPA II) had treated an anti-corruption movement.’’
Meanwhile, India Against Corruption (IAC) on Wednesday continued with their fasting programme and plans to extend it for a week.
Speaking to this reporter its coordinator, also an advocate, Ramesh Kumar Sharma said: "While we have changed our venue from Esplanade to College Square on the advice of Kolkata Police, we have continued fasting for second day protesting UPA II trying to hurt every democratic interest of common man and a genuine anti-corruption movement.’’
Sharma said one of the activists, Sushil Kumar Pandey who is on second day on fast would want the state Government to permit them to carry on with this programme for this week.
"We are not happy nor convinced with what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament on the issue today,’’ he added.
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