Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Nandigram issue

The West Bengal government said time and again that no chemical hub would be set up in Nandigram against the wishes of the people. Yet there were violent agitations forcing thousands of people to abandon their homes. They were unable to return home as the BUPC, the Trinamool Congress, and a few other opportunistic parties did not allow them to do so. Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s utterances in public against the State government did not behove the high office he holds. As rightly pointed out in the editorial “The challenge of Nandigram” (Nov. 12), his statements challenged the wisdom of the government’s approach and came down on the side of the critics of its action.

T. Radhakrishna Menon,

History shows us that whenever a progressive government comes to power, reactionary forces join hands. When the people of Nandigram were driven out, not a drop of tear was shed. When they are returning home, some people’s hearts have started bleeding. What an irony!

A.K. Ramachandran,

Criticism in a democracy is healthy but it should not be unilateral. I would like to ask those criticising the CPI (M) government a few questions: why, even after the Chief Minister announced in February that no chemical hub would be established in Nandigram, did the Trinamool Congress, backed by the BUPC, continue its so-called movement? Why did the BUPC not cooperate with the local police in March when it tried to intervene to ensure safe passage for farmers who were forced to leave their villages? Why did Mamata Banerjee, Medha Patkar, Mahasweta Devi and others not visit the camps where the CPI (M) supporters — who also are poor peasants — have been staying since January? No criticism of the Left Front government can be made without giving a satisfactory reply to these questions.

Dhananjay Tripathi,

While justifiably expressing our anguish over the loss of lives in Nandigram, we should take care not to go overboard in condemning the CPI(M) which, despite its government’s manifold policy failures in West Bengal since Singur last year, continues to be a critical part of the progressive struggle in India. There is evidence of an internal debate in the party. The State government was compelled to review its SEZ policy and shift the chemical hub from Nandigram. Instead of condemnation, our critique should be such as to build public pressure on the party and the Left Front and encourage the growing internal debate along democratic lines.

Anil Sadgopal,

It is now clear that the State government’s writ has not run in Nandigram for months. The State police could not enter the area for a fairly long period. The residents in large numbers were forcibly driven out. No wonder the Maoists took advantage of the situation and launched their campaign of violence and terror. The opposition parties, as always, found an opportunity to make political capital. The obvious question is why the State government did not ask for Central assistance earlier. Had it acted in time, it would not have been in the situation it finds itself in.

I.S. Kanthimathinathan,

How did the Maoists enter Nandigram without the knowledge of the government? Why did it not take the help of the Centre to dislodge them earlier? The West Bengal government should not have allowed the situation to degenerate, pleading helplessness.

C.N. Parthasarathy,

It is improper to find fault with the Governor for expressing his anguish. With the ruling party bent on capturing Nandigram from the clutches of the BUPC, the area represented a war zone. In such a situation, the Governor could not have remained a silent spectator. If anything, Mr. Gandhi has proved that he is a Governor with a conscience.

Ramani P. Easwaran,

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