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Medha Patkar responds to WSN
initiative
The last WSN edition
(November 14-November 20, 2007) had carried an open letter from Prof
Jagmohan Singh to activist and conscience keeper Medha Patkar which
detailed the inhuman actions of CPI(M) cadre goons and her heroic
struggle. Ms Patkar has responded to the letter of solidarity, as have
several other readers. We are carrying these excerpts only as a mere
glimpse into the kind of response the WSN evoked. -- Editor
Dear
Jagmohan Singh ji,
I suppose I haven't met you as yet or may be I am wrong. Your letter has
drawn much response from many readers. thanks for the support. Nandigram
is not still peaceful. In spite of CRPF and NHRC team reaching there, as
also the Kolkata High Court's verdict of November 15. Fast and dharna in
Kolkata continues on behalf of various people's organisations and Amlan
Dutt has begun his 48 hours fast today. I have come out for Court cases
and other work on similar struggles and against unjustifiable propaganda
against us. The next program related to Nandigram from 21st or so and we
appeal to all to come and join the jatthas to Nandigram. The exact date
to start with it will be declared soon. Those who want to join the rally
fast can reach Kolkata any day at the earliest.
Best regards,
Medha Patkar-
An
activist writes to Medha Patkar about WSN's initiative
Dear
Medha,
I have
already sent you a letter of solidarity through the NBA ID of Baroda.
Now I join professor Jagmohan Singh and all pro-people elements in
extending my solidarity with you. What is happening in West Bengal is
happening in many other parts of India in the name of development. The
industrialists who want to deprive people of their livelihood for their
own profit keep using the criminal elements to achieve their goal. It
has happened at Kalinga Nagar, Kashipur, Chhattisgarh and elsewhere.
However, it becomes much more shocking when a party that claims to be
with the people commits such atrocities on behalf of the industrialist.
One is also shocked to see the reaction coming only on party lines and
not in support of the people who should be our first concern. I thank
you for thinking of those people. I have supported you on many other
occasions but now I can show my support only through this letter. I am
unable to come there and you do not need me there. There are enough
people with you. You might not have seen many signatures from the
Northeast in the letters of solidarity that you and others have
received. It is because most of those who take such initiatives forget
that India has a region called the Northeast. So we do not get them
here. But I want to tell you that a big number of persons in this region
are in solidarity with you and the people of Nandigram. This week more
than 80 persons met for two days to reflect on displacement and
rehabilitation in the Northeast. And Nandigram, Singur and others were
mentioned several times. The people of this region are keeping a close
watch on developments there. So I too salute all of them.
Walter
Fernandes
(Dr
Walter Fernandes is on the committee of experts for the North East, in
the National Commission for Women. He has 30 books, more than 100
professional articles and many newspaper articles to his credit. Most of
his work has been on tribal livelihood, gender and development induced
displacement. He has served the Indian Social Institute in New Delhi
till 1999 in a variety of positions and also been the director of North
Eastern Social Research Centre.)
21 November, 2007
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