Rejecting the West Bengal government's request to her not to go to Nandigram, social activist Medha Patkar on Monday left for the violence-torn area with relief materials.
"I have sought protection for my colleagues and for myself at Nandigram," Patkar told reporters after a meeting with Chief Secretary A K Deb at Writers' Buildings in Kolkata.
She said the chief secretary called her for a meeting and urged her not to go to Nandigram. "But I have decided to be with the affected villagers."
The social activist resented that her appointment with Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee was not granted. "We want to discuss restoration of peace at Nandigram with the chief minister, but he is reportedly preoccupied," she said.
To a question, Patkar said the CPI-M cadre did not allow the CRPF personnel to enter Nandigram.
The administration, she said, should remove the CPI-M blockades and allow the central forces to enter.
Describing the situation at Nandigram "akin to a cremation ground," Patkar claimed there were fresh attacks by the CPI-M. "I have reports that the Maoists are planning more such attacks."
"The real face of the CPI-M has been exposed with party cadres assaulting unarmed people and even Left intellectuals are coming under attack for speaking their mind," Patkar, who was assaulted allegedly by CPI-M supporters on her way to Nandigram on November 8, said.
"Sonachura and Gokulnagar were forcibly acquired by the CPI-M," she said adding, "This is criminalisation of politics. The killings must stop."
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