M A I N   N E W S

Nandigram issue
‘Cops to step in if political process fails’

Kolkata, May 6
Police will step in to restore normalcy in trouble-torn Nandigram if the political process fails and opposition parties continue to stay away from all-party meetings, veteran CPM leader Jyoti Basu said today.

"An all-party meeting is the appropriate answer to the problem in Nandigram. But if the opposition backs out of this initiative, police will move in and do the work (restore normalcy)," he said after a meeting of the CPM state committee here.

The meeting, attended by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee and state party secretary Biman Bose, discussed the Nandigram situation.

Asked to comment on the status report on the Nandigram situation which refers to the role of CPM supporters in clashes with the opposition and in organising assaults on social activists between April 29 and May one in Nandigram, Basu said "The state government will handle the matter the way it thinks best".

"Let them (opposition parties) take part in the all-party meeting and express their views", he said.

The Calcutta High Court on May 3 had directed the state government to ensure normal life in troubled Nandigram villages in East Midnapore district while observing that prima facie it appeared that the people had been denied fundamental rights under Article 21 after the state submitted a status report saying that the situation there was very serious.

At least 14 people were killed by police firing in Nandigram on March 14 during protests against land acquisition for setting up a chemical hub. The government subsequently decided to drop the project.

As the situation put the state government in a tight spot, violence continued unabated in Nandigram even after the Chief Minister made it official that no land would be acquired in the area for setting up of industries. Almost the entire area virtually remained cut-off by land from the rest of the state and remained a ''free zone'' as members of the Trinamool-led Bhoomi Uchched Protirodh Committee dug up roads and stood guard against the entry of any outsider while about 5,000 CPM supporters had been evicted from their home.

Shy of taking any hard measure following the March 14 upheaval, when police made a futile attempt to take control of the area and at least 14 villagers were killed, the Left Front Government ordered the police not to force their way into Nandigram, while administrative and development work remained paralysed.

But according to CPM sources, the situation gave rise to a strong feeling among a section of party leaders and workers, who refused to ''lie low to the treat'' and see '' a helpless Government giving a long rope to the opposition, enjoying a free run in the area.''

While at least one person was killed and many injured in fresh clashes on April 29, Trinamool Congress supporters allegedly destroyed relief camps, sheltering the families of evicted CPM workers and demolished houses and drove out rival party supporters in renewed attacks over the past three days.

With all development and economic activities having come to a standstill in Nandigram, the Calcutta High Court recently directed the state government to restore normalcy. However, high Government officials said there was no immediate plan to deploy para-military forces in the area.

Meanwhile, in its status reports submitted to the Calcutta High Court, the state Government reportedly admitted armed CPM supporters being involved in clashes with Trinamool activists on April 29.

When asked about the status report, Basu said, “If the fact is like that then the Government should make a mention of it.'' — UNI