Kolkata: Noted writer and rights activist Mahasweta Devi, who had actively campaigned for Trinamool Congress in West Bengal Assembly election, on Monday described the government as 'fascist' and alleged it was trying to throttle the people's voices.
"The people are denied of their legitimate right to protest and this is nothing but a fascist attitude. The government will have to withdraw the undemocratic diktat," Devi told a press conference referring to the denial of permission by the government to hold a hunger strike and sit-in demonstration on November 23 and 24 in the city.
The press conference was organised by the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) and 21 other human rights organisations.
"What has not happened in the last 64 years in West Bengal happened today. The people were robbed of their natural right to protest," the Magsaysay award winner said.
The hunger strike and sit-in were planned to demand withdrawal of Joint Forces from Maoist-hit Jangalmahal, of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and release of political prisoners as promised by Trinamool Congress before coming to power.
Permission was initially given by Kolkata police but was withdrawn later citing "administrative" reason.
Asked if her hopes of good governance were dashed, Devi said "I have protested against injustice of the Left regime and the entire country knows me as a rebel writer and for that I have received Padma Bibhusan and Magsaysay award."
Asked if she has any sympathy for Maoists, she said "I don't believe in the politics of violence and killing of people but what Joint Forces are doing is also not justifiable democratically."
She demanded the Joint Forces be withdrawn first and the government take the initiative for peace talks.
Some other intellectuals, who had stood solidly behind Mamata Banerjee in her bid to come to power in the state, have also voiced their protest in a letter written to APDR.
They include singer and Trinamool MP Kabir Suman, film-maker Aparna sen, theatre personality Koushik Sen, writer Suchitra Bhattacharya and poet Sankha Ghosh.
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