Nobel laureate Amartya
Sen on Monday expressed his agony over India’s reducing indulgence in debate and
dissent.  He said people are put into
prisons without trial through the arbitrarily imposed charge of sedition.

“A person whom
government does not like may be declared by it to be a terrorist and
imprisoned,” he said on the continuous suppression of free voice.

He said visionary
leaders like Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid should be treated as
political assets rather than enemies, and should be given opportunity to pursue
their pro-poor initiatives.

Sen on Monday also
conveyed his thanks to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for extending
her support after his family was accused by the Visva Bharati of being in ‘illegal’
possession of land on the campus.

“I am very happy indeed to get your wonderfully supportive letter.
I am not only most touched, but also very reassured that despite the busy life
you have to lead, you can find time for reassuring people under attack. Your
strong voice, along with your full understanding of what is going on, is for
me, a tremendous source of strength,” he said.

Banerjee on Monday blamed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for attempting to
incite riots in Bengal. She said they are trying to subdue educational
institutes like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).  

Also Read | Visva Bharati violence: Governor Dhankhar calls Mamata, university shut indefinitely

“Bengal is being
maligned. Gandhiji had come to Beliaghata to bring peace during the riots then,”
she said.

Banerjee also said that
BJP was targeting the educationists of the society.

“I’m targetted
politically. Be it Abhijit Banerjee or Amartya Sen, they’ve a different place
in society. Our educationists are being targeted. Now they’re feeling isolated.
In all these years, they (BJP) didn’t say anything on Netaji. Now they are
talking about him,” Banerjee added.

She assured that she
has signed an order for getting back the Visva Bharati land.

A huge controversy had erupted last Thursday, the day Prime Minister
Narendra Modi addressed the centenary celebrations of Visva Bharati when media
reported that the university has written to the West Bengal government alleging
dozens of land parcels owned by it were wrongfully recorded in the names of
private parties, including Sen.