More time needed to assess Mamata govt: Social Activist

, May 17: Litterateur and social activist Mahasweta Devi today said more time was required to assess the performance of the

government in

, which should also be 'properly responsive' to people's aspirations.

"This government is trying to work. We should wait at least three months more to properly judge the performance of the government," the Magsaysay award-winning writer and social activist said. "The new government has come to power with a huge mandate. It will have to be properly responsive to the people's aspirations," she added. Mahasweta Devi had stood by the Trinamool Congress supremo at the height of her movements for farmers' rights in Singur and Nandigram.

On the state government's claim of having restored peace in the Maoist-hit Jangalmahal, Mahasweta Devi said, "The government will have to be more serious in resolving the problems in Jangalmahal on a permanent basis." She was also hopeful that the state government would be successful in restoring peace in the Darjeeling hills.

The octogenarian writer, who once dubbed the state government 'fascist' for its alleged denial of police permission to the Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights, a civil forum, for holding a rally in Kolkata, said: "we had supported them (Trinamool Congress) for removing the CPI(M) from power and they could achieve that goal. I wish the Mamata Banerjee government all the best."

PTI