Their humanism, their socialism, their nationalism, their concern for human rights, their respect for democratic values have always been suspect in the eyes of observers willing to suspend their ideological coolers. But the events in Nandigram, a village 300 km from Calcutta, over the past nine months has shown that the holier-than-thou communist parties are as nanga in the hamaam as the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
An extraordinary 18 people protesting the acquisition of 14,000 acres of land for a chemical SEZ to be set up by the Salim Group, linked to former Indonesian president Suharto, were shot dead by the police in March. The villagers, mostly supporters of the CPI(M), soon organised a resistance movement, which was reportedly hijacked by Maoist elements who drove out CPI(M) cadres. From then on, it has been all downhill.
Compensation to the next of killed has been deadly slow in coming. There has been no remorse, no regret from the Left leadership for the loss of innocent lives. And now a stoneage CPI(M) method to reclaim lost turf has seen more deaths. The media has been barred from the area, those opposing the method like Medha Patkar have been mercilessly silenced. Governor Gopalakrishna Gandhi‘s attempt to draw the nation’s attention to the disgrace has been condemned by fellow-travellers, but television pictures last night showed the full extent of what is happening.
Questions: Is Nandigram the Left’s Gujarat? Would Narendra Modi have been treated as magnanimously by the intelligentsia and the media if his police and partymen had resorted to methods similar to that of Buddhadeb Bhattacharya‘s police and partymen? Has the Left lost all credibility and exposed its hypocrises? And does the brutality of Nandigram provide a logical explanation as to how the Left has managed to retain West Bengal for so many decades?
Also read: The death of SEZs?
CPIM is worse than Modi. Modi never came into way of working of Media. Media is not allowed into Nandigram for last 4-5 days by armed CPIM cadres. Even during March 2007 incidents, media was barred by CPIM cadres.
Those who not lived in West Bengal villages cannot comprehend the actual meaning of CPIM rule. Its a total control over peoples life, and there is no difference between police, administration and Party.
The state has withered away in West bengal under Marxist rule.
Just one statistics will explain it. As per Lingdo Committee report, SFI (student wing of CPIM) wins unopposed in 80% of West bengal college/universities. It has terrorised opposition so much, (and police, admin being UNDER party control) opposition can’t put up candidate in 80% of colleges, and universities.
Nandigram however shows the fast decline of CPIM. The people who rose against CPIM were their core voters – rural poor, landless, people from backward class, minorities. And CPIM has unleashed its armed cadres against these hapless people.
I come from rural areas of district of Burdwan where CPIM has strongest base in India. And I can tell you with certainty, CPIM IS FAST LOOSING SPACE IN RURAL BENGAL WHICH WAS ITS BASTION NOT SO LONG AGO.
Nandigram proves CPIM is in deep trouble in West bengal. The sudden death of state Secretary Anil Biswas, who had a cool head and total control over party has put CPIM in total mess. Buddha lacks organizational background. Biman Bose is a hot head.
CPIM will be history in WB in next 5-10 years, which was something unimaginable even few years back.
–Protima Konar/Connecticut/Kolkata
One last thing: Congress must bear large part of blame for the massacre in Nandigram, because CPIM knows it can go scot free with a weak congress at the center.
Congress has kept opposition divided deliberately in WB for so long thus allowing CPIM to rule by proxy. In exchange, Cong is enjoying CPIM support at the center.
Where is Tehelka, Arundhati Roy, Teeta Setlvad they dont have guts to go to Bengal ? …. Oh I forgot media is not allowed there right ? so why should they go there nobody can see them doing the good work right …
where are sourav ganguly and aamir khan?
What does the Chennai commie rag say about Nandigram??
Online Petition: Severely Punish the Guilty of Nandigram Violence
http://www.petitiononline.com/redsezwb/
WHAT IS DIFFRENCE BETWEEN MODI AND BUDHDEV
IN GUJRAT GOONDAS ARE ARRESTTED AND PUNISHED BY COURT.
IN BENGAL NOT A SINGLE IS ARRESTED.
WHY?
ALL CPM GOONDAS GETTING COIN FROM BUDHDEV.
Nandigram is a slap on the face of so called protagonists of the poor and the down trodden. Modi of Gujarat can not come any where near the cold blooded killings of Nandigram. After all Gujarat riots were the fall out of ghastly burning of a train in Ghodra. It was an emotional out burst which was not reined by the state administration and at times state is guilty of abetment with the rioters. But an attempt has been made to book the culprits. Nandigram is a classic example of government working hand in glove with their own party cadre to achieve their own goal at any cost. Commies will turn Bengal into their personal fiefdom where dissent can be strangled to death with immunity. I t is really heartening that intelligentsia of Bengal have voiced their concern. It is up to others in the country to join them to protest the high handed rule of CPM and uphold the democratic and human values.
Modi called in the army as soon as the vilence started – on the same day.
CPM waited till its people had sated their blood thirst and killed enough before calling in the police – and even than – they were told what to do and not to do.
CPM is worse than Modi can ever be – yet – being so called (sic) seculars, they are forgiven all sins by the Indian media.
Hypocracy is alive and well in India thanks to its media and politicians.