http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=13&id=178146&usrsess=1
THE ISSUE: Court says 14 March firing at Nandigram was unconstitutional. But the arrogant CPI-M leaders won’t learn.
All praise to Mr Justice SS Nijjar and Mr Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh for rightly holding that the 14 March firing at Nandigram was unjustified and unconstitutional. But I am sorry to say that considering the instant reactions of some top ranking CPI-M leaders who have openly criticised the judgment in a disgraceful manner, I doubt whether the judgment would come as an eye-opener to the government.
We all know, arrogance is the hallmark of CPI-M leaders. Having been in power for the last 30 years they have taken it for granted that the actions of the government would go unchallenged. Law is not for them. Their leaders are immune from all actions and are free to make contemptuous remarks against courts with impunity.
In the past, similar remarks were made by senior CPM leaders but they were allowed to go scot free. Therefore, I do not think the CPM leaders would take any cognizance of this latest judgment unless these leaders are booked under law of contempt.
ARUN GUPTA,
19 November, Kolkata.
Party prefers
violence
The court has pulled up the Left Front government for the firing at Nandigram on 14 March. But the CPI-M leaders adopted a “don’t care” attitude. Arrogance often prevents a person from seeing the truth.
Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s move to recapture Nandigram with the help of armed cadres has confirmed our worst fears. It is now clear that Mr Bhattacharjee is not the people’s Chief Minister, but belongs to the party first, and the party prefers violence to silence its opponents.
RATHIN CHATTERJEE,
19 November, Dum Dum.
Legal assault
on CM
Any government respecting the Constitution would have bowed out, and any civilised Chief Minister having self-respect would have stepped down after the Division Bench of Calcutta High Court severely censured and indicted the administration and the police for the “wholly unjustified and constitutional” actions at Nandigram on 14 March.
This is a direct legal assault on Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who also holds the Home (Police) portfolio, as his own police came under fire from the HC for unwarranted shooting above-the-belt of unarmed people both by the police and CPI-M cadres in police uniform. But the arrogant CPI-M leaders, led by its state secretary, Mr Biman Bose, continued their tirade against the High Court judges as also the Governor, Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi, instead of feeling ashamed for their conduct.
Mr Bose, and his comrades, Binoy Konar and Shyamal Chakraborty, have forgotten that the CPI-M state secretary’s appeal against an earlier judgment for contempt of court is pending before the Supreme Court. Its inordinate delay should not be taken as a licence to shoot his mouth off. Perhaps Mr Bose feels that the country’s highest court is scared to take any action against him, thanks to the CPI-M’s clout in the capital city.
ASABARI SEN,
19 November, Bolpur.
Not above law
It is observed that the CPI-M leaders don’t behave well with the Governor, judges of the High Court and the media persons who are opposed to the undemocratic activities of the party, such as the 14 March firing at Nandigram.
In democracy everyone has the right to criticise any person but that should be done in a civilised way and in dignified language. But the CPI-M leaders do not hesitate to express their views about Governor Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi in the most uncouth manner. In a democracy the ruling party is not above the law. It should introspect whether there has been any unlawful and undemocratic activities on the part of the government.
It is strange that the party does not care even for the protests of intellectuals, artistes and writers, many of whom are Left minded. Doesn’t the haughty attitude of the CPI-M leaders bring back memories of the 1970s?
DILIP KUMAR DUTTA,
19 November, Midnapore (W).
State’s right
The court judgment must have evoked mixed reactions - the opposition happy and the state government jittery. What seemed to have gladdened those opposed to the Left Front was that the HC rejected all the arguments of the state government and directed a fresh CBI inquiry.
With due respect to the Hon’ble Chief Justice Mr SS Nijjar and Mr Justice Pinaki Ranjan Ghosh of the High Court passing the verdict, is it unethical to question the propriety of the media to spew vile and venomous expletives on the government? Isn’t the media sitting in judgment on something entirely within the purview of the court? The government expressed its shock and regretted the 14 March Nandigram incident time and again, saying that it shouldn’t have happened. It also lost no time instituting an inquiry assuring that none found guilty would be spared.
The state has every right to challenge a court order. It doesn’t necessarily imply defiance of the directive passed. The public is also entitled to criticise any judgment. Hasn’t the judiciary been found overactive and manipulative? Hasn’t if frowned upon the people’s representatives? If one pillar of democracy transgresses the constitutional limits, should anyone be barred from raising his or her voice against it? After all, it takes two to tango just as it takes two hands to clap. One ought to pause to ponder before calling a party arrogant.
PB SAHA,
21 November, Kolkata.
Means fair or foul
Calcutta High Court’s judgement came immediately after the Opposition bandh on 12 November together with the HC lawyers’ suspension of work for a day demanding speedy justice for the “police excesses” on 14 March and the Governor’s statement of lawlessness and the state government’s inability to restore normalcy.
It’s known to all, that the Marxist party moves on with its own “ideology” defying everything else. The party adopts all possible means to reach its objective, even by violating all democratic tenets keeping in mind the panchayat elections ahead.
RANADIP GANGULY,
19 November, Kolkata.
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