New Delhi: Writer and Naxal sympathiser Arundhati Roy condemned Monday's attack by Naxals on a civilian bus in which at least 41 people were killed but blamed the government for exposing the tribals to the threat by rebels.
"Media reports say that the Maoists have deliberately targeted and killed civilians in Dantewada. If this is true, it is absolutely inexcuseable and cannot be justified on any count. However, sections of the mainstream media have often been biased and incorrect in their reportage. Some accounts suggest that apart from SPOs and police, the other passengers in the bus were mainly those who had applied to be recruited as SPOs. We will have to wait for more information. If there were indeed civilians in the bus, it is irresponsible of the government to expose them to harm in a war zone by allowing police and SPOs (carriers of the mantle of all the crimes of Salwa Judum) to use public transport," said Arundhati.
"Also, for a sense of perspective lets not forget that right at this moment in Kalinganagar and Jagatsingpur in Orissa hundreds of police are firing on unarmed people protesting the corporate takeover of their land," she added.
Arundhati has been leading the movement against the Government's offensive against Naxals saying that their demands are genuine and the authorities should focus on the grievances of the tribals to solve the problem.
The Booker Prize winner also wants the Government to start peace talks with the rebels, stop Operation Green Hunt and resettle people rendered homeless in the Naxal-infested areas of the country.
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