[Reader-list] Nandigram: Only peace is future....

[Tapas Ray]

Actually it's a chapter West Bengal has been reading for many years now. 
(Some people may have missed it, but that is all right.)

This chapter is about a clear erosion in the ruling party's credibility 
- which was high at one time, even with many who were not necessarily 
its supporters - and a corresponding increase in its tendency to shed 
all democratic niceties and use open violence to keep populations and 
institutions under control. In other words, in a way the "liberation" of 
Nandigram is a sign of the ruling party's desperation.

Winning control at any cost may be in keeping with Leninist and/or 
Stalinist principles - the party's spokespersons can enlighten the list 
on that - but certainly not in keeping with the norms of democracy as it 
is commonly understood.

West Bengal does indeed need a new chapter, and events like Nandigram 
and Singur point to the fact that the people are writing it, but not in 
the way the quoted text suggests.

Tapas


prakash ray wrote:

> People from all over are saluting you. Red salute to the people of
> Nandigram. Your sacrifice, your struggle, your victory have created a new
> chapter in the glorious history of the left democratic struggle.