[Reader-list] Nandigram Myths Decoded: CBI Calls the Bluff

[A. Mani]

Source: People's Democracy: 9th Feb'2014

( http://pd.cpim.org/2014/0209_pd/02092014_nilotpal.html )
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Nandigram Myths Decoded:

CBI Calls the Bluff


Nilotpal Basu



HISTORY is cruel; in its own way, it squares up the truth. Seven years
back, a rural tract in West Bengal - Nandigram - shot to prominence.
It resonated across the country. The cyber world took it beyond the
national boundary and drew international attention. Political
observers attributed electoral nemesis of the three decade electoral
sway of the Left to the developments in Nandigram.  Nandigram was seen
as the 'diabolical' anti-peasant face of the Left in Bengal. And
overall, it contributed to undermine the credibility of the Indian
Left.



What was the background of the unfortunate developments that unfolded
in Nandigram in the early days of 2007?  The government of West Bengal
in its attempt to industrialize the state had zeroed in on the
Petroleum Investment Region scheme mooted by the central government;
taking advantage of incentives of the scheme to facilitate the
petroleum investment hub where Nandigram would be the core. The
requirement for the scheme was a large amount of land.  The locational
advantage of Nandigram was its proximity to port city Haldia and
existing oil refinery and petro-chemical complex. These existing
facilities provided important infrastructure to locate the petroleum
investment zone. That agricultural land in Nandigram suffered from
salinity, forcing people to migrate for work was another factor which
weighed in favour of developing industrial activities in the region.



However, the decision of Left Front government did not find major
support from the people. A major factor which affected the mood of the
people was the lack of communication. The comprehensive consultative
exercise which ought to have helped galvanise popular opinion for
industrial activity failed to fructify. And this communication deficit
was compounded by a tendentious propaganda blitz by the opposition. A
rainbow coalition emerged to oppose acquisition of land for the
project.



Taking advantage of the uncertainty that emerged, the broad platform
virtually took physical control over the proposed project land. The
platform took to violence; digging up roads and blowing up bridges,
the entire area went out of the writ of the state government. The law
and order situation became captive to these forces. Several killings
ensured that discourse on the industrialization agenda could not reach
the people. Discussion and debate towards any informed conclusion was
the casualty.



CATCH-22

SITUATION

It was a catch-22 situation for the state government. Given the broad
opposition to the project and the related issue of land acquisition,
it became clear that without concurrence of people, it was impossible
to go ahead with the project; notwithstanding its importance in the
overall context of the industrialization agenda. Thus, between January
and March 2007, atmosphere of uncertainty and anarchy prevailed in the
area.  In February itself, the state government and the chief minister
announced that there will be no land acquisition against wishes of the
people.  But despite that, the opposition was unrelenting and carried
on their violent and lawless ways making the area incommunicado to the
state government. The state government was found helpless in ensuring
the right of the entrapped citizens.



And, this was the backdrop of 14th March 2007. A police party which
entered the area to restore communication to re-establish rule of law
was confronted with. The consequent unfortunate police firing and
related incidents resulted in the loss of 14 persons; widespread
condemnation against 'forcible acquisition' followed.



Nandigram became the symbol around which opposition to the Left
government galvanized.  From Maoists on the Left to communal forces of
all hues on the Right combined. With TMC spearheading the opposition,
its supremo and present chief minister Mamata Banerjee shot into
national fame. She became the icon of the anti-Left forces not only
nationally but also internationally. Those who were pathologically
opposed to the Left catapulted her to lead against hitherto
electorally invincible Left; so much so, that she featured on the
cover of Time magazine.



Ironically, the Left in India, which had been in the forefront of the
struggle for agrarian reforms and land redistribution, was shown as
having betrayed that legacy. The overall neo-liberal policy
environment featuring large-scale takeover of agricultural land by
corporate sharks came to be equated with what happened in Nandigram on
the 14th of March.



Of course, there have been several reasons which led to the setback of
the Left in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and assembly elections in
2011; but Nandigram was widely seen as the trigger which set out the
course for undermining the credibility of the Left.



Much as they attempted to explain their approach, the Left failed in
getting its message across. Even before the Left Front government
could order any independent probe into the firing on 14th March, the
Kolkata High Court, at the insistence of the opposition, ordered a CBI
probe.



LF GOVT

VINDICATED

Finally, the propaganda blitz that led to institution of CBI probe has
come full circle. On 18th December 2013, the CBI, after almost seven
years of investigation, filed a chargesheet before the court.  The
findings could not be any greater indictment of the then opposition
led by TMC and its mercurial leader Mamata Banerjee. The CBI findings
completely vindicate what the Left government had contended at that
point of time.



The CBI chargesheet reveals - "Investigation has disclosed that
efforts were made by the district administration and the police
officers to normalize the situation in Nandigram. Many meetings were
organized between the administration, leaders of the opposition
parties and BUPC"; Bhumi Uchhhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) being the
umbrella organisation spearheaded by the TMC which led the agitation
in Nandigram. But, the CBI has now opined that -"However, there was no
visible improvement in the law and order situation which remained out
of control for the District Civil and Police administration".



Detailing about how bad the situation was between January and March,
2007, the chargesheet states -"During this period at least 56 FIRs
were registered at Nandigram and Khejuri police stations relating to
violence, arson, loot and murder etc. The period also witnessed death
of 11 persons and injuries to at least 25 persons due to these
clashes. A police Sub Inspector namely Sadhu Charan Chatterjee was
kidnapped and killed by the mob, police jeeps were burnt and police
weapons were looted. The cases registered could not be investigated by
the local police as the local police were unable to enter into the
villages during this period".



The chargesheet comprehensively calls the bluff that the police entry
was 'clandestine'. The chargesheet categorically states that - "On
12.03.2007, the state home secretary briefed the press, in which he
informed them about the proposed police action in Nandigram".
Subsequently, "it was decided that the police operation would be
conducted on 14.03.2007 at three places in Nandigram".



The firing was 'after all attempts to disperse the crowd' who blocked
the police entry through requests over PA system, lathicharge, firing
of tear gas and firing in the air 'failed'.



The chargesheet also nails down the claim that there were hundreds of
people killed, with gory charges of children and women being torn
apart and their bodies smuggled out. The chargesheet categorically
points out that 'opposition consciously spread rumours' and 'organised
armed men' to take on police which led to the unfortunate firing.  As
if to add salt to injury, the CBI rejected the plea of the TMC that
the political leadership of the Left was responsible.  In fact,
despite these findings, the current state government and the chief
minister has refused to allow CBI to proceed against police and civil
officials whom they found to violate some procedures, insisting that
Left leadership must be investigated.



The CBI is no 'holy cow'. Neither has it done anything spectacular to
erase the impression that it is not insulated from political
interference having earned the description of 'caged parrot'.  But,
TMC and Ms Banerjee have forgotten that for almost six and a half
years during which the CBI was carrying out its investigation, it was
they who were in company with the ruling Congress - both in the state
and the centre.  The state government had every opportunity to inform
CBI towards an 'informed conclusion' in course of last almost three
years; not to forget that this CBI investigation on firing in
Nandigram was essentially at their own behest.



Therefore, it is an irony that truth has finally come through the CBI
chargesheet. Those who had chronicled contemporary events during that
period will hopefully revisit conclusions that they had drawn on
Nandigram - and, more importantly, on the Left and its intentions.


_________________________________



Best

A. Mani



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