CM sticks to stand on rebel sympathisers!Didi invites ‘PRS’ Ramesh!

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CM sticks to stand on rebel sympathisers OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Calcutta, Nov. 22: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is sticking to her position on Maoist sympathisers and seems to be in no hurry to break the ice with writer Mahasweta Devi, who yesterday called her government "fascist". "Mamatadi is concerned about the attacks on our workers in Jungle Mahal and, as an administrator, she feels those responsible should be brought to book. Supporting their cause can't be allowed," said a Trinamul Congress source. The source said though Mamata was "hurt" with the fascist label, the chief minister's priority was her responsibility towards the people. "There are many who had supported me before the elections and have turned away since then…. It does not matter to me," Mamata had said yesterday. The alleged provocation for Mahasweta Devi's comment was denial of permission for a rights outfit to use Metro Channel to stage a protest. Mamata and the writer don't see eye to eye on withdrawal of security forces from Jungle Mahal, one of the issues the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) had lined up for its protest programme. In the past, however, at the slightest hint of dispute, Mamata had either rushed to meet Mahasweta Devi or sent her emissaries. When Jadavpur MP Kabir Suman went public alleging corruption in Trinamul about two years ago, the reconciliation took place at the writer's residence in south Calcutta. A civil society member, who worked with both Mamata and the 87-year-old author during the Nandigram movement, said the bad blood between the two was unfortunate. "It seems that they don't share the same level of understanding. This was a case of over-reaction. This was unexpected," he said. Mamata's efforts to bring the Maoists to the talks table have not yielded any result so far. Trinamul insiders said she was not very happy with the role of the interlocutors, many of whom were members of rights organisations that have come out in the open to criticise the government. "When she started the peace process, she had brought in the interlocutors to present the government's stand to the Maoists and make them see reason. The interlocutors started writing letters calling for withdrawal of security forces, while murders were taking place in Jungle Mahal," said a Trinamul minister. According to sources, at the last meeting she had with the interlocutors, Mamata had categorically ruled out any possibility of the forces being called back. APDR protest APDR activists today held a demonstration in front of the New Secretariat building, near the high court, and accused Mamata of misleading people. "When we had met the joint commissioner of police (headquarters), he gave us verbal permission (to hold the protest in Metro Channel) after verifying that the venue was not booked. On November 17, we received a letter from him saying that for administrative reasons permission could not be granted. If what she (Mamata) says is true that the venue was booked previously, why did the joint commissioner of police give the verbal permission?" asked an APDR functionary. Police sources in Lalbazar said the APDR would submit a memorandum to the chief minister on November 25. The group would walk till the BB Ganguly Street-Phears Lane crossing after which some representatives would go to Writers' to submit their request.

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• Opening off over card 'slip'   • CM sticks to stand on rebel sympathisers   • Didi invites 'PRS' Ramesh   • Villagers do what govt didn't OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT New Delhi, Nov. 22: Mamata Banerjee will not only not trouble Manmohan Singh but she will also send goodwill gesture to Jairam "VRS (or is it PRS?)" Ramesh during her current stay in the capital. "There is no programme to meet the Prime Minister. Why should I trouble him without any work? I have met him a number of times. I have come for the trade fair event of our state," the chief minister told reporters during a dinner hosted by party leader and Union minister Sudip Bandopadhyay. Although Mamata refrained from commenting on the recent exchanges with the Congress, she took a dig at Union rural development minister Ramesh for his remark that his party had not taken VRS in Bengal. Mamata chose to hear "VRS" as "PRS" (Passenger Reservation System). "PRS? Our Dinesh Trivedi (railway minister) can give him (Jairam) not one but two PRS," Mamata said and laughed. Mamata has invited Ramesh to the Bengal day function at the trade event at the India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan and the Union minister is learnt to have said he would attend. Ramesh met a couple of Trinamul MPs today. Trinamul sources said Ramesh had told the MPs that he had been asked by his party to echo the concerns of the Bengal unit but insisted that the chapter be closed. In the free-wheeling interaction after the dinner, Mamata, too, indicated she did not want to escalate the tension. The Prime Minister's media adviser, Harish Khare, was present at the dinner and was seen talking to the chief minister. Mamata used the opportunity to take a potshot at the Left, saying even China would not come to the help of the comrades. "Chinese people are meeting me. They have invited me to China," she said. Asked when she would visit China, Mamata said she was not able to do so because of her preoccupation with Bengal. MP posts Sudip Bandopadhyay will be the leader of the Trinamul Congress parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha. The decision was taken by Mamata at the dinner tonight. Party MP Kalyan Bandopadhyay will be the chief whip and Union minister of state for shipping and Trinamul's all-India general secretary, Mukul Roy, will remain the leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha. Saugata Roy will advise the MPs on key issues that will be raised in Parliament. According to party sources, Mamata has said a "firm no" to foreign direct investment, particularly in the airline sector. "Mamatadi told us that such a move would be detrimental to the interest of Air India," a Trinamul MP said.