IN AN email interview with Shubhomoy Sikdar, Binayak Sen discussed various issues of Chhattisgarh as well as his organisation Rupantar.
Q: How has two years of your incarceration impacted all the welfare programmes of your organisation ‘Rupantar’ in Chhattisgarh?
A: Major parts of our work have been seriously affected in the extremely insecure atmosphere prevailing today. Our colleagues and even people in the villages where we worked have been harassed by the police. Our premises have been searched without warrant and medical records opened without our permission. However, in Dhamtari district, the community health worker based programmes including a field laboratory continues. And the medical clinics in the tribal areas were held in abeyance pending my return.
Q: The Supreme Court granted you bail on May 25, 2009, following tremendous support that you received during the time you were jailed. What are your reactions?
A: The bail on a personal bond and without conditions was certainly a morale booster, although of course the trial continues. As regards the support, the widespread national and international campaign for my release reflects the people’s dismay and disquiet at my incarceration and my failure to obtain bail.
Q: While you received considerable national and international support including that of twenty two Nobel Laureates there was hardly a significant voice forthcoming from within Chhattisgarh against your detention. Do you regret this?
A: The attitude of the intelligentsia in
Chhattisgarh and especially that of the press reflects their own affiliations and preoccupations. We must note that the electronic media was much more nuanced in its attitude than the print media in their attitudes. However, important sections of the Congress party including the former CM Ajit Jogi, were open and vocal in their support, as were workers of the
Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha, the CPI and other political organizations. During the Raipur Satyagraha, participants from
Chhattisgarh, including those from places as far as Jashpur and Bagich, made the arduous journey to Raipur to demonstrate for my release.
Q: Constitutional methods to deal with Naxalism have not bore fruition. What should be the possible approach to stop this menace?
A: The roots of the situation in Bastar lie in decades of deprivation, and in the expropriation of forest and mineral wealth from the indigenous population. Unless this reality is addressed, I do not see any way out of the present impasse.
Q: Industrial giants like Tata Steel, Essar Steel and IFFCO are rapidly making their entry into the state’s tribal belts. What do you feel should be done to make this industrialisation holistic?
A: I do not know what constitutes holistic industrialisation. The issues are equity, social justice and control over assets. The politics of democracy has to be developed so that effective control is in the hands of the people.
Q: What are the future endeavours of the ‘Rupantar’?
A: We are working on this. Meanwhile we are working together with others to put forward an agenda for peace and political engagement in preference to military confrontation.
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