By IANS,
Kolkata : Writer-activist Arundhati Roy Wednesday virtually justified the Maoist attack on the Central Reserve Police Force in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada, saying she saluted the people of the area who have stood up against the “mighty state”.
“I salute the people of Dantewada who have stood up against such a mighty state. Was there any other alternative to the people of Dantewada? The tribals have been neglected for decades. And now when they have started protesting against this injustice, the government is waging war against them,” said Roy while addressing a gathering in Kolkata.
On April 6, 75 paramilitary troopers and a lone policeman were massacred by the Maoist in Dantewada district in one of the biggest attacks by the Left wing rebels to date.
Roy slammed the government for “acting as agents of corporate houses” who want to grab forest land rich in natural resources.
“The government has launched operation green hunt to grab forest land and hand it over to corporate houses. They want to displace the tribals from their homes. We live in a fascist society. This is not democracy. The government should immediately stop this war which has been thrust upon its own people,” added Roy.
Gautam Navlakha, a social activist and a speaker in the gathering, hailed the Maoists as patriots.
“Don’t you think that they are patriots? They are fighting against the exploitation of the adivasis (tribals) by the state. Until and unless they stand up and fight against the government, it will not lend an ear to their demands,” said Navlakha.