Click to play videoA reign of terror looms in Nandigram. The CPI-M is accused of murdering scores of people, raping women, burning houses and chasing away opponents.
How has a small village like Nandigram become the centre of political battle in West Bengal? CNN-IBN, in association with The Telegraph, asked this on The Big Nandigram Debate in Kolkata.
CNN-IBN’s Bhupendra Chaubey hosted the debate and the guests on the show were representative of Bengal’s civil society and intelligentsia: Derek O`Brien, quizmaster and spokesperson for the Trinamool Congress, Mudar Patherya, a social activist and chief positioning officer of Trisys Communications. Ltd., High Court lawyer Kalyan Banerjee and Rudranshu Mukherjee and Editor, edit page, The Telegraph.
Is Nandigram a shame for Bengal?
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, while commenting on the violence in Nandigram, has said: The opposition “have been paid back in their own coin.” A comment which critics say smacks of the ruling CPI-M’s arrogance.
“My head hangs in shame because minutes before this debate was to begin the CPM Mayor of Kolkata confirmed that he would come but he hasn’t turned up to listen what the people have to say. That is arrogance, and a reason for shame. The thin line between party and government has obliterated in Bengal,” said O’Brien.
But how did this “thin line” end and violence in Nandigram was permitted when the CPM has been ruling Bengal for 30 years? “Nandigram happened because a single party has been ruling for three decades. This party thinks it can get away with anything—it has no regard for the rule of law, the Constitution or governance. As a Bengali and an Indian I have never felt so ashamed when I saw what happened in Nandigram and the way in which the Chief Minister has acted,” said Rudranshu Mukherjee.
Slamming the CPM is easy but the party has been ruling Bengal for 30 years—shouldn’t then the people of Bengal too must take responsibility for Nandigram.
“That is party correct,” said Mudar Patherya. “It is everybody’s collective responsibility but there are grades of responsibility. The Chief Minister would have greater responsibility than say Mr Rudranshu Mukherjee. We may be equally responsible for voting CPM to power but not in the decisions it takes.”
Has the Left mishandled Nandigram?
Buddhadeb has no remorse for what CPM workers have done and CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat says the party is not going to “oblige” opponents “in dislodging us by force with the help of Maoists.” CPM Politburo leader Brinda Karat has said the need of the hour is dum, dum dawai (instant medicine).
What made CPM leaders make such arrogant statements?
The audience reaction was: it is because the CPM takes the people of Bengal for granted and its cadres run a parallel government.
“Every thing in Nandigram has been done at the behest of CPM cadres and leaders,” alleged Kalyan Banerjee. “On December 27, 2006, there was a meeting near Nandigram which was addressed by the CPM’s Haldia MP. The MP said land would be acquired in Nandigram for building a chemical hub. He had no authority, but as chairperson of Haldia Development Authority the MP issued a notification for land acquisition on January 4, 2007. This has been done by a CPM man who had no business doing so,” said Banerjee.
Bengal’s confrontational politics
Nandigram may have been at peace if Trinamool Congress and CPM leaders speak to each other. But Mamata Banerjee won’t talk to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and he won’t try hard to invite her.
“Which CPM should we talk to? There is a mask in between,” said Derek O’Brien. “There is one Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who watches plays at Nandan, but then there is the real CPM—the murderer and the rapist. Mamata Banerjee won’t speak to a Chief Minister who has no credibility.”
But the Opposition isn’t clean either. It bandhs and strikes paralyse Bengal and harass common people. As human rights activist Sujato Bhadro: “The political opposition must ask the Government to stop this carnage but it has failed.”
Business and Bengal
Nandigram and Singur erupted in violence because of mega projects to build industries, but strangely business leaders have rarely spoken on the events.
Industrialist Alok Mukherjee, former chairperson of FLAKT India, admitted Bengal may not have an Anu Agha, the former chief of Thermax industries who spoke against the 2002 Gujarat riots, but business chambers hadn’t kept silent.
“I will say this. Some 10 years ago Bengal was a joke when people talked of industrialisation but it’s moving ahead. But these kind of things—violence in Nandigram and bandhs—are a blot for which the Chief Minister must apologise,” he said.
Brand Buddha
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was once regarded as the beacon of hope and progress in Bengal, and even the best Chief Minister in the country. What now for him?
Theatre personality and filmmaker Sumon Mukherjee said Buddhadeb was respected for his “do-it-now” attitude but now it was time for change.
Rudranshu Mukherjee pointed out the turn toward industrialization didn’t start with Buddhadeb but with Jyoti Basu as Chief Minister in 1996. “Buddhadeb raised certain hopes and expectation, but he has proved with his statements and action that a Stalinist leopard never changes its spots.”
If Buddhadeb has a credibility problem, can Mamata Banejee be trusted? But we don’t need politicians for dialogue, said farmers’ right activist Anuradha Talwar.
“Why do we always talk of politicians and dialogue between Buddhadeb and Mamata? Talk about dialogue with people of Singur and Nandigram, instead with politicians,” said Talwar.
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