Rights activists take an about-turn

They accuse Mamata of not keeping promises like release of political prisoners

Human rights organisations, which stood beside Mamata Banerjee before she became Chief Minister of West Bengal in 2011, are now voicing criticism against the Trinamool Congress government.

Last Tuesday, members of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) took out a march here in protest against the Chief Minister, accusing her of not keeping her pre-election promises, chiefly the “unconditional release” of political prisoners.

Rights activists are unhappy with the amendment to the West Bengal Correctional Services Act, 1992, which bars those with terror links from seeking the status of political prisoners.

APDR vice-president Ranjit Sur told The Hindu : “As per the amendment, members of any banned outfit and political party will not be able to seek the status of political prisoner.”

‘Draconian measure’

Sujato Bhadra, rights activist and former interlocutor between the State government and Maoists, said though activists had always opposed the “draconian measure”, the State government had not bothered about it.

“We expected that the human rights record of the State would improve under the Mamata Banerjee government. But she has made matters even worse,” Mr. Sur said. He criticised the government for the “fake encounter” of Maoist leader Kishenji.

Rights activists said the Chief Minister had rendered the West Bengal State Human Rights Commission “totally ineffective” by making a former Director-General of Police its acting chairperson.

“Several Maoist leaders who played a role in the movement against forced land acquisition in Nandigram, are still in jail,” he said.

Crime record

As regards crimes against women, rights activist Bolan Ganguly said the attitude of the government was “unacceptable”. The Park Street gang rape case showed the government’s failure.

While admitting that the amendment to the West Bengal Correctional Services Act, 1992 has “shrunk” the scope of a person getting the status of a political prisoner, activist Prashun Bhaumik said the State government was liberal and practical and they could be amended later.