New Delhi: During her interaction with Kolkata's students and others on CNN-IBN, West Bengal Chief Minister bristled at every question that brought up the issue of intolerance and insensitive statements from the authorities. She branded most of these as 'Maoist' or 'CPI(M)' questions.
However, two specific questions incensed her to a point where she openly accused the questioners – both of them university students – of being 'Maoists' and 'CPI(M) cadre'. The first one was raised by Arpita Sinha and the second, by Taniya Bhardwaj.
Here, Arpita Sinha explains her point of view about why she asked the question she did and her response to Banerjee's outburst.
I had no idea that asking Didi about "women's safety in the state and the steps being taken to solve the internal problems" would lead us to witness such an evening. My purpose of asking such a question was not to raise a finger at anyone in particular. It was out of immense respect for her as an activist that I decided to go ahead with such an issue, believing that I would be properly enlightened on the same and be assured about my own safety, being a woman myself.
We have all seen earlier how she has been given her support to victims in times of need, just like a pillar of strength. Probably that is another reason why we all lovingly address her as Didi. What surprised me the most was that voicing a question in public interest can infuriate someone to such an extent that any university student can be labelled a "CPM cadre" or "Maoist".
She happens to call herself "not a feminist but a humanist". And therefore my question is: Does being a humanist encourage a person to give out a statement even before the probe is completed?
The Chief Minister must have got my question wrong. Underlying the deep sense of despair, somewhere at the back of our minds we also have a sense of hope to be nurtured. Therefore, with that sense of hope for a brighter tomorrow, I refuse to leave the state as of now. This is my state, I shall stay here, and together we shall bring the change that we all deserve to be a part of. Or such is my naïve hope.
One last message to "Didi" would be that I am just another regular girl who respects her post. I do not deserve to be misunderstood unnecessarily.
P.S: I am a student of Jadavpur University; I am neither a "Maoist" nor a "CPM cadre".
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