There is life being brutalised behind the Iron Curtains in our Mai Desh in Dantewada (a sacrificial offering of a neo Dante's Inferno to Mata), where the State fights civil society, leave alone the Maoists. I sometimes wonder how it would play out for our Goans politicians if they have something to say on what is happening in other states instead of conveniently lambasting Goan stalwarts, and helping maintain, or would that be assailing our 5,000 year and counting sounskruti (sankriti-civilization), on a new kridangan (playground). ---vjp ++++++++++++++++++++ Life Behind The Iron Curtain *The hounding of activist **Himanshu Kumar** is a parable about the war and panic in Chhattisgarh and the complete blackout of information, reports **TUSHA MITTAL (excerpt 1) When his wife first joined him, he told her to replace her make-up kit with medicines. Despite living in this Maoist-dominated conflict zone for nearly two decades, despite its many intimidations, Kumar has never felt the urge to flee. Until now that is – when the might of the State is upon him. *
(excerpt 2) At a recent press conference in Raipur, Chhattisgarh DGP Vishwa Ranjan told journalists on record that there could be police action against them if they wrote in favour of Naxalites. Two weeks ago in Dantewada, DIG SR Kalluri called journalists into his office for one-on-one sessions. “He told us not to write in favour of the Naxals (euphemism for not writing anything against the State) and said the police have their eyes on us,” says NRK Pillai, vice-president of the Chhattisgarh Working Journalists Union. “The atmosphere isn’t conducive. There’s no one really to back us. Press owners will not stand by us. There’s always the fear of what will happen to our families.” http://www.tehelka.com/story_main43.asp?filename=Ne160110life_behind.asp ++++++++++++ <http://www.tehelka.com/story_main43.asp?filename=Ne160110life_behind.asp> venantius j pinto
