[Reader-list] WB CPI (M) Deputation meets Governor on Nandigram developments

[prakash ray]

A delegation of four WB CPI (M) MPs and one MLA met the Hon. Governor on the
late morning of 9 November. The delegation in a detailed memorandum apprised
him of the train of events that took place in Nandigram. Earlier, the WB
Governor in a statement called for the establishment of peace at Nandigram
and exhorted the state administration and the representatives of the people
to intervene. The delegation consisted of Taritbaran Topdar (who led the
delegation), Prasanta Pradhan, Sudhangsu Sil, Mainul Hasan, all MPs, and
Rupa Bagchi, MLA.  Hon. Governor assured the delegation that he would have
the issue looked into towards amelioration.  The full text of the memorandum
that the delegation presented to the Governor is this:


"The Hon'ble Governor

West Bengal

Raj Bhavan

Kolkata 700001

Respected Sir,

We would like to draw your attention to the developments that have taken
place at Nandigram and its surrounding areas over the past eleven months,
and the consequences thereof.

1.. From the beginning of 2007, a large number of people have been put to a
great deal of distress.  The train of events started on 3 January when a
meeting in progress at the Kalicharanpur Gram Panchayat, for declaration of
a Nirmal Gram, was misconstrued deliberately by the Trinamul Congress
leadership as a plan to take over land for a proposed chemical hub.  An
attacking gang of the Trinamul Congress and the Naxalites, the Panchayat
broke up the meeting and chased away government officials, set on fire
police vehicles, and ransacked houses of CPI (M) supporters nearby.  This
set the pattern of things to develop over the next ten months.

2.. From the evening of 3 January, houses of CPI (M) supporters were
attacked by an organisation called the Bhumi Ucchhed Pratirodh Samity (BUPS)
or the so-called 'committee to prevent eviction from land' that was set up
and run by the Trinamul Congress and its allies the Naxalites, and the SUCI
with outside support declared by the local units of the Congress and the
BJP.

3.. Since the night of the 3 January, the entire area of Nandigram, and its
surrounding localities were forcefully taken over by the armed gangs of the
BUPS and the Trinamul Congress and they allowed only their writ to run, they
would not allow either the police or the civil administration any
entry.  This was the time when they aligned themselves with the armed
Maoists from Jharkhand and Orissa to enter the area.

4.. Bridges were destroyed, culverts were broken up, all roads leading onto
and out of Nandigram were slashed up, and Nandigram was declared a
'liberated zone' where the state government would not be allowed entry.

5.. A large amount of explosives and a large number of guns by then had been
sneaked into Nandigram and they were distributed to a large number goons and
anti-socials who swore allegiance to the Trinamul Congress, the Naxalites,
and the SUCI under the garb and guise of the BUPS.  Ostensibly, the violent
'movement' was to 'prevent the LF government from acquiring land for a
chemical hub project,' which was a lie.

6.. Bengal chief minister declared in a huge CPI (M) rally at Khejuri in
February that the LF government had not issued any notice at all for any
such acquisition of land for any such project that would include Nandigram
and its surrounds.  However, the violence was continued with by the Trinamul
Congress and its allies.

7.. On the morning of 14 March, a police firing had to be resorted to when
violence was let loose by the Trinamul Congress and its allies.  Bengal Left
Front chairman and Bengal chief minister both expressed regret at the
incident and called for peace.

8.. Specific targets have been made of the CPI (M) workers, and supporters
and their houses were looted and then set on fire, forcing them to leave
hearth-and-home and take refuge in the miserable conditions of relief camps
that were set up on an emergency basis.  Even the relief camps have since
then been routinely attacked, and the refugees prevented form going back to
their villages.

9.. The Trinamul Congress now joined by cadres of the Maoists ejected at
gunpoint hundreds of people every day from Nandigram villages and from
surrounding areas.  At present more than 3,500 people are rendered refugees
in their own homeland.  1, 500 live in the inadequacies of relief camps and
the rest have found shelter in houses of relatives away from
Nandigram.  Men, women, and children are not able to lead a normal life and
are terror-struck.

10.. What is criminal in intent are the acts of commission by the Trinamul
Congress and its allies even after the Bengal chief minister again clearly
declared subsequently in September that there was no plan to set up a
chemical hub at Nandigram and that the desolate sandhead at the mouth of the
River Ganges called Nayachar has been selected for the chemical hub
extending from Haldia.

11.. In the meanwhile, more and more attacks have been organised on the CPI
(M) workers and CPI (M) supporters.  Until date, 13 more CPI (M) supporters
have been done to death.  Women have been raped and killed.  Cattle,
poultry, and fishes poisoned.  Stocks of cereals, vegetables, food stuff
looted.  A business is run by the Trinamul Congress and the Maoists (under
the cover of the BUPS) where funds are extracted from the villagers before
allowing them to till the land and harvest crops, or to run shops.

12.. Every kind of developmental work was brought to a standstill.  15,000
children could not take doses of pulse polio.  Rs two crore worth of health
infrastructural work had to be abandoned.  The health centres and the
subsidiary health centres virtually could not function.  Rs two crore worth
of electrification could not be done.  With no developmental work allowed by
the Trinamul Congress-Maoists, the future of development even next year
looks bleak with the inability of the district administration to produce
utilisation certificates for funds allocated and not used.

13.. The CPI (Maoist) has added a violent dimension to the imbroglio at
Nandigram.  They have brought in groups of armed and trained action forces
from outside of Nandigram, even outside of the two Midnapores, east, and
west from Jharkhand and Orissa.  They have coordinated efforts with the
Trinamul Congress setting up joint commands at Nandigram and surrounding
areas.  The action is coordinated by Ranjit Pal of the Maoists (the
self-declared killer of JMM MP Sunil Mahato), and Subhendu Adhikari of the
Trinamul Congress.  Three landmine bursts have occurred recently killing two
CPI (M) supporters and it is apprehended that many more landmines have been
planted in and around Nandigram.  The Maoists control a large tract of land
from Garchakraberia to Sonachura.  The DNA of Mumbai and the national daily
Economic Times (copies enclosed*) have carried the details of the Maoist
plans of action very recently.

14.. To fund the armed activities the Trinamul Congress and the Maoists have
stolen a huge quantity of products from the Burn Standard factory at
Jellingham and sold them in localities of south 24 Parganas.  They also cut
down and illegally sold a large number of prime and valuable trees.  In both
instances, the criminal were caught and they confessed to the crimes.

15.. The need of the hour is peace and development.  The Bengal chief
minister has already briefed the media about the outcome of a meeting
between the district administration and the BUPS led by the Trinamul
Congress where it was agreed that the remaining concerned police officers
would be transferred, cases lodged withdrawn, and payment compensation to
victims fixed.  In return, refugees living in the unhealthy conditions of
the relief camps would be allowed a safe return.  To this, the Trinamul
Congress, and the BUPS agreed but later did not allow the refugees to go
back to their villages.

16.. The Trinamul Congress leadership has recently declared publicly at a
rally at Riyapara that anyone willing to live at Nandigram shall have to
become a member of the Trinamul Congress or else will be either killed or
ousted.  In attacking the CPI (M) office there, the miscreants also tore
down and burnt two Red Flags.

17.. A violent turn of events occurred soon after.  Following the attack on
the Riyapara office of the CPI (M), the combined forces of the Trinamul
Congress, the BUPS, and the Maoists crossed a canal on 5 November, entered
into newer areas, a process they have started during the festival season,
and threatened to do away with relief camps.  People in the relief camps
have had a very miserable time for the past eleven months.

18.. You may kindly recall that the destitute people of Nandigram who were
driven out from home-and-hearth had met you earlier in deputation (copy
enclosed*) communicating to you the misery they faced at the relief camps.

19.. They could take it no longer.  In utter desperation and braving bullets
and bombs, they with the help of the people in the nearby areas came out of
the camps and marched peacefully towards their home villages.

20.. Bengal Left Front has issued a specific appeal for peace and for the
safe and secure return to villages of all people living outside of them,
irrespective of political affiliation.  The men, women, and children are to
be ensured a safe rehabilitation.  The Left Front has also called upon the
people of Nandigram to cooperate with the police and the civil
administration to help establish peace and ensure a new beginning for the
stalled works of development.  There should not be allowed any instance of
retaliation.

21.. The state administration has recently iterated what the chief minister
told the media earlier.  The package announced include compensation for the
victims, shifting of the remaining police officers, punishment for the
guilty, withdrawal of cases, and providing relief to the distressed
people.  The police will with permission of the concerned political parties
enter the Nandigram zone and set up police camps to begin the peace process.


22.. Out of fear, some villagers have very recently left their places, and
have taken shelter in the Nandigram police station and a nearby school.  A
section of them has already gone back to their villages after assurance of
safety and security by the erstwhile and returned refugees.

23.. Currently, peace talks have been initiated at the lower level and the
concerned political parties have agreed that they want to restore normalcy
and allow to the setting up of police camps.  If there is no interference
from above, everything will be normal very soon.

24.. Peace negotiations have commenced at the level of the district
administration with participation of political parties.  Negotiations can be
continued with the BUPS and the Trinamul Congress but cannot be organised
with the CPI (Maoist) for the latter has been the propagators of an intense
violence taking the shelter of the Trinamul Congress and the BUPS.

With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
1.       Prasanta Pradhan
2.       Taritbaran Topdar
3.       Mainul Hasan
4.       Sudhangsu Sil
5.       Rupa Bagchi"