DOOARS TERAI: Dooars social activists reject Maoist tag
Posted by barunroy on July 10, 2009
FROM THE STATESMAN
SILIGURI, 9 JULY: Social activists in Siliguri have opposed the administration’s alleged move to brand voluntary organisations working among the tea workers in the Dooars as “Maoists”.
The inspector general of police (IGP), north Bengal, Mr KL Tamta, had recently stated that the police were “keeping an eye on the organisations active in the closed tea estates in the Dooars, apprehending some possible link with the Maoists”.
A number of Siliguri-based social activists, including a few teachers of North Bengal University, today convened a Press conference at the Child Welfare Organisation in the town to voice their protest over the IGP’s remark.
“The civil administration and the police ~ who have miserably failed in delivering good governance and security across the Dooars tea estates ~ are now conspiring to pass the buck onto the social organisations that are engaged in positive work there. We strongly condemn the attempt of the police to put a ‘Maoist’ tag on the social organisations,” said Mr Anirban Choudhury of NESPON.
According to him, the IGP’s remark is part of a bigger conspiracy of the ruling parties to regain their lost footing in the Dooars by frightening the locals.
Among those present at the Press conference this afternoon were ~ NBU teachers Mr Ajit Roy, Mr Ranjit Pal, Mrs Shukla Pal, Mr Tamas Mazumdar and Mr Nikhiliesh Roy, APDR Siliguri secretary Mr Abhiranjan Bhaduri, Mr Arnab Bhattacharya, Mr Anirban Choudhury and activist Mr Rupak Mukherjee. They alleged that the state government was trying to create a rift between the Adivasis and communities living in the Dooars forest villages by distributing land titles selectively to the Adivasis.
“The administration is also violating the provisions of the Forests Rights Act by twisting and turning them to suit the political agenda of the ruling Left parties,” Mr Choudhury alleged.
