Intellectuals will meet Governor to complain about CM

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=6&theme=&usrsess=1&id=193446

Rajib Chatterjee
KOLKATA, March 2: Criticising the chief minister for awarding the Seva medal to an IPS officer, accused of torturing women and farmers in Singur, a section of intellectuals and human right activists have decided to meet Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi to complain about Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
Mr Bhattacharjee recently awarded the Seva medal to IPS officer, Mr Asit Paul, former additional superintendent of (Headquarters), Hooghly, who has been accused of assaulting women farmers and Ms Anuradha Talwar, a human rights activist near the Singur small car project site last year for protesting against the land acquisition.
Speaking to The Statesman, eminent writer and Magsaysay award winner, Mahasweta Devi said: "I came to know from the media that he (the chief minister) gave the medal to a police officer against whom complaints of assaulting women were lodged by human rights organisations. Buddha (Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee) has not done anything wrong. I will not be surprised if he awards a rapist in the future.” She said the officer is the “obvious and natural choice of the chief minister” because the officer had “blindly” followed the instruction of the state government. “He (Mr Paul) has tortured farmers, assaulted women mercilessly and received the award for his job. He deserved the medal and the chief minister selected the right person to confer the award,” the writer sarcastically said. Mr Paul was promoted last year as the deputy commissioner of the city police recently. Mr Amitdyuti Kumar, a senior member of the Association for Protection of Democratic Right said: “We will meet the Governor to lodge a complaint against the chief minister shortly. The state government gives medals to men-in-uniform on behalf of the Governor to recognise their contribution to the society. Before selecting policemen for the award, the state government should scrutinise their service records.”

Nandigram is a failure: Buddha

The Statesman

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=179183

CM Regrets 'paid back in same coin' Remark
Statesman News Service
NEW DELHI, Dec. 4: Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today admitted that Nandigram was an “administrative and political failure” and regretted his remarks that those opposing land acquisition there had been “paid back in the same coin”. “We have to ensure that Nandigram does not repeat itself. We have learnt lessons from Nandigram that we have to take people into confidence... We have failed in Nandigram. It was an administrative and political failure,” he told a Press conference here. Asked about his remarks after the recapture of Nandigram that those opposed to the CPI-M and land acquisition had been “paid back in the same coin”, he said: “I should not have said that. Now I want peace for all.”. To a question whether the process of industrialisation in the state had suffered due to the Nandigram situation, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “Nandigram or no Nandigram, the process of industrialisation in West Bengal cannot be stopped.”
He said no corporate house, business group or foreign company had said they would withdraw from the state. “In fact, major foreign companies from Japan, the USA, Singapore and Dubai have sent proposals” to invest in the state. On the chemical hub which was supposed to have come up at Nandigram, Mr Bhattacharjee said it was now being set up at Nayachar, which did not have any habitation nor was the land arable.
The chief minister said the situation in the troubled Nandigram blocks was “fast returning to normal” and most of those who had been evicted had already returned. A total of Rs one crore had so far been spent by the Left Front government for their rehabilitation, including reconstruction and repair of damaged houses, roads, bridges as also supply of clothings, utensils and fertiliser mini-kits for the farmers to sow the rabi crop, he said. (The home secretary said in Kolkata the state government was ready to implement a High Court order to pay Rs 5 lakhs as compensation to the relatives of those killed in police firing, though the government would move the Supreme Court against the order. The home secretary said a state police officer had been showcaused following CRPF complaints that the state police were releasing those who were being arrested by the CRPF). The chief minister said a senior official had been sent to the area to prepare a report on what kind of development projects could be implemented in the Nandigram area. “As soon as we get this report, I will announce the projects.” Asked when he would visit Nandigram, the chief minister said he would not do so now as his first task was to restore normalcy and the farmers were also busy cultivating the rabi crop. “Let the situation get back to normal.”

On Governor
To questions on his relations with Governor Mr Gopal Krishna Gandhi who spoke out against the CPI-M led government on the issue, he said the Governor was a “very nice man” and he has had very cordial relations with him. “There has been no problem (with him) at all. We not only discuss administrative and political issues but literature also. We also exchange books... he is a nice man,” he said, and denied reports of any no move to seek a change of Governor.

On Maoists
On Maoist presence in Nandigram, he said the bunkers and trenches dug up in the area, the mine and other arms found clearly indicated their presence in the affected area. He maintained that the Maoists had come from outside the state, including from Jharkhand. “The CRPF is doing a good job in unearthing the arms and ammunition piled up by them.”

On Intellectuals
Regarding the 14 May police firing on protesters in the area and the alienation of intellectuals from the Left, he said “no one can accept (police firing) ... intellectuals are very sensitive. My duty is to explain to all of them the actual situation. Many of them have now been convinced.”
On differences among the Left Front partners over the Nandigram episode, he admitted difference of opinion on some issues but asserted that the Front was “different” from the UPA or any other coalition cobbled before elections. “The Left Front has had a long history of struggle”. Asked about comparisons between him and former Chinese leader Deng Xiao Ping, Mr Bhattacharjee said he was a “great visionary and I am a small fry. The people will judge what I am doing.”

On Hill Council
As Lok Sabha deferred consideration of two Bills relating to the Gorkha Hill Council today and the government expressing readiness to refer these to a Parliamentary Standing Committee, Mr Bhattacharjee said major Opposition parties in Parliament, including BJP, were not opposed to the measure. He met Leader of Opposition Mr LK Advani last night and spoke to his Orissa and Bihar counterparts to elicit their support for the legislation. Regarding his meeting with Mr Advani, he told reporters that the senior BJP leader told him though he had no problem with the contents of the Bills, his party opposed the manner in which the UPA government wanted to push them forward. The chief minister told Mr Advani that he was well aware of the Gorkha issue as he had held the home ministry for long and sought his and the BJP’s support for passage of the legislation. He also spoke on phone to Orissa chief minister Mr Navin Patnaik and his Bihar counterpart Mr Nitish Kumar on the matter. Mr Patnaik, who also heads the ruling BJD, apparently assured him of support while Mr Kumar said he would discuss the issue with his party president.

On Taslima
He said he discussed the Taslima Nasreen issue with external affairs minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee and it was up to the Centre to decide on the matter. Mr Bhattacharjee said he would not comment when asked whether the visa of the controversial Bangladeshi writer, who was shifted from Kolkata following violence in the city over her stay there, be extended.
“I have spoken to Pranabda. Now, it is up to the Centre to take a decision on the matter,” he said. Referring to the anti-Taslima violence, he said some forces were trying to divide Bengal communally.

On Projects
Mr Bhattacharjee said he briefed the Prime Minister about the largest private steel plant of the country, to be established by the Jindal group, in the Salboni area. He said the Prime Minister had accepted his invitation to lay the foundation stone of the project in January end. On other industrial projects, he said while two more steel plants were coming up at Purulia and Bardhaman, a biotech park was being established by IIT, Kharagpur, in collaboration with the University of Berkeley. He also briefed the Prime Minister on the progress of the establishment of a deep-sea port in the state. Shipping and Surface Transport Minister Mr TR Baalu would soon visit Kolkata to discuss the project.

CPM attacks Gandhi, HC

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=179021

Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, Dec. 3: Even after the issuance of a suo motu notice of criminal contempt against senior CPI-M leaders by Calcutta High Court, a section of the party leadership today did not refrain from accusing the court and the Governor, Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi, of being biased. Diatribes marked the meeting of the Citu-affiliated Calcutta Street Hawkers' Union which was punctuated by beats of dhaks followed by some belated praise for Mr Gandhi’s visit to Nandigram yesterday.
“The Governor and the honourable court acted on their behalf”, Mohammad Nizamuddin, senior Citu leader said. He was referring to the roles he had “perceived” the Governor and the High Court played on the Nandigram issue and seemed to be in the grip of the “us and them syndrome”.
Imperialists from the USA are pouring in funds to break the Left Front, he alleged. He apparently forgot the visits of Mr Henry M Paulson, US Treasury Secretary and Mr Henry Kissinger, former US Foreign Secretary to Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, chief minister and their red carpet welcome at Writers’ Buildings.
Mr Shyamal Chakraborty, state Citu president, said: "The Governor during his trip to Nandigram visited the hut of Sankar Samanta's widow and bereaved father. The Governor's action is praiseworthy as Samanta was one of the first CPI-M activists who was killed at Nandigram and Mr Gandhi learnt of the woes of the other side too, he added.
"I can understand his predicament'', he observed. But he sent out a message when he visited burnt huts of both Trinamul and CPI-M activists at Satengabari’’, he pointed out.
Buddha briefs PM on Nandigram, India

Governor in Nandigram today

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=6&theme=&usrsess=1&id=178887

Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, Dec. 1: The Governor, Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi will visit Nandigram tomorrow, 20 days after the CPI-M state leadership declared the “war zone" as “terror free”.
In a clear message that he was unmoved by scathing criticism from the CPI-M leadership, Mr Gandhi, who just two days ago met the Union home minister, had said his “ stand remains unchanged”, will visit the relief camp and meet the displaced persons. Raj Bhavan sources said the Governor would decide upon the areas to visit once he reaches the spot.
Mr Gandhi had condemned the “recapture” of Nandigram by armed CPI-M cadres as “ unlawful and unacceptable” in a statement issued on the night of Deepavali, earning the wrath of the party.
His statement so incensed the CPI-M leadership that it felt “ the government was partially handicapped to respond because of a situation precipitated by his (the Governor's) earlier statement in March 2007.”
The party leadership did not call off its criticism of the Governor at this point. An acerbic Mr Benoy Konar, a central committee member, asked Mr Gandhi to carry a Trinamul flag after emerging from the Raj Bhawan.
Though Mr Gandhi apparently took little notice of this verbal assault, it may be noted that despite several requests, he had stayed away from Nandigram saying that he might be blamed for any worsening of the situation. Little wonder then that his visit assumes significance in this backdrop.
After the 14 March carnage Mr Gandhi had also visited Nandigram, comforting the injured and relatives of those who died in the police firing, an incident which left him with a sense of “cold horror”.
Singur meeting
A new political equation is sought to be drawn up in the Opposition camp as senior state Congress leaders are scheduled to address a meeting at Singur tomorrow with Krishi Jomi Raksha Committee in which Trinamul Congress occupy a significant part. Mr Jayanta Bhattacharya, senior Congress leader is one of the party leaders who will address tomorrow's meeting.
An important leader of Mr Somen Mitra's faction, Mr Bhattacharya had attended a meeting with Trinamul Congress leadership at the latter's office recently. His presence at tomorrow's meeting is an indication of Mr Mitra's faction joining forces with Trinamul Congress, though the latter was considered to be a political pariah owing to its being a partner at the BJP-led NDA.
The party will decide on the choice of other senior Congress leaders at this meeting, Mr Bhattacharya said.
The meeting is scheduled to be held near the fencing of the small car factory of the Tata Motors.

Governor refutes Chakraborty’s accusations

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2007-11-11&usrsess=1925188832000&clid=6&id=203356

Kolkata, Nov. 10: CPI-M leader, Mr Shyamal Chakraborty received a rap on his knuckles today as Governor, Mr Gopal Krishna Gandhi, gently chose to remind him (through a press release) that although he had not issued a public statement when the local MLA Md Ilyas was manhandled and beaten up in Nandigram, Mr Gandhi had personally written to the MLA and condemned the attack on him as “deplorable”.
Yesterday, Mr Chakraborty had criticised the Governor for not issuing a statement when Md Ilyas was manhandled. However, undaunted Mr Chakraborty continued to hold forth today to "comment on what had transpired in Nandigram today" in addition to the statement issued by the CPI-M state secretary, Mr Biman Bose, earlier in the day. At last describing the situation in Nandigram as “critical” Mr Chakraborty said that despite peace meetings there have been fresh violence due to some provocation. “We can understand there is provocation but from which quarter it is not completely clear to us. But we are figuring it out and would comment in the open when necessary.”
Mr Chakraborty also blamed the Trinamul Congress and Maoists for today’s violence saying they had used some of the local people as human shields and fired after which the locals ran towards Tekhali and took shelter in the local party office. Interestingly, Mr Chakraborty today failed to give the death toll since the party’s zonal office was set ablaze a few days back and they had failed to gather information. SNS

Governor indicts CPM

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=175979Statesman



Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, Nov. 9: In a strong criticism of the CPI-M, Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi today termed the manner in which the villages in Nandigram were recaptured as “unlawful and unacceptable” and described the area, “as the Home Secretary aptly put it, as a virtual war zone”.
Mr Gandhi, in a Press statement, said attacks on social activist Ms Medha Patkar and some other human rights activists in Nandigram yesterday “were against all norms of civilised political behaviour”. On their way to Nandigram, Ms Patkar and her associates were assaulted allegedly by a CPI-M mob at Kapasberia. He also said: “No government or society can allow a war zone to exist without immediate and effective action.”
“Those who had to flee to Khejuri must come back with full confidence and dignity.” Mr Gandhi expressed his concern over reports that Maoist rebels had entered Nandigram. He also criticised CPI-M attempts to “restrict non-political persons from carrying relief material and food for the affected people.”
The Governor said he had received phone calls today from several persons who informed him that a large number of houses were set ablaze in Nandigram.
He added that he had asked the administration to ensure safe return of the displaced people of Nandigram to their homes and give them relief immediately. “I have also asked the administration to remove unauthorised blocks at entry points to Nandigram,” Mr Gandhi said. Meanwhile, Ms Patkar today said that she would start a 48-hour fast at Metro Channel in the city from tomorrow demanding restoration of peace in Nandigram.
The CPI-M tonight criticised the Governor’s statement and said people expected “impartial” comments from him. CPI-M central committee member Mr Shyamal Chakraborty said: “The people expect impartial statements from the Governor.”
He claimed the Trinamul Congress and the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee had for the past 11 months indulged “in atrocities, looting, arson and killings and rendered 3,500 people homeless. But the Governor had remained silent on it. This is unfortunate”. Mr Chakraborty said the Governor had expressed concern about respected personalities being stopped from entering Nandigram yesterday, but had remained silent on the manner Nandigram MLA Mohammed Illyias had been dragged out of his car and
beaten up.
He said that many from relief camps at Khejuri had met the Governor earlier in Kolkata and given him a memorandum, “but the Governor did not show any sympathy to them or given any assurance for providing relief.” The CPI-M leader said the party would give a detailed reaction tomorrow after an emergency meeting. State PWD minister and RSP leader Mr Kshiti Goswami said his stand had been vindicated by the Governor’s statement. “Yesterday I had said in unambiguous terms that peace was being forced upon Nandigram in an undemocratic manner,” Mr Goswami said.
Trinamul chief Miss Mamata Banerjee welcomed the Governor’s statement and said that she thanked the Governor “on behalf of the people of West Bengal for the stand he has taken”.

Governor's statement on the recent events in Nandigram

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071110/asp/nation/story_8532012.asp

The following is the statement issued by governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi on Friday evening. The sub-heads are not the governor’s.

The ardour of Deepavali has been dampened in the whole state by the events in Nandigram. Several villages in Nandigram are oscillating from the deepest gloom to panic. Large numbers of armed persons from outside the district have, it is undeniable, forced themselves on to villages in Nandigram Block I and II for territorial assertion. Thousands of villagers have consequently been intimidated into leaving their homes in villages such as Daudpur, Amgachi, Jambani, Simulkundu, Brindabanchak, Tekhali, Nainan, Kanongochak, Takapara, Satengabari, Ranichak, Kamalpur and Keyakhali.

Huts ablaze

Even as of 4pm this day I have received phone calls from responsible persons in Nandigram saying that several huts are ablaze. Large numbers of villagers have taken refuge in the local high school in Nandigram, bereft of food and personal securities.

‘War zone’

At the time of writing, the most accurate description for Nandigram is the one used by our Home Secretary, namely, it has become “a war zone”. No Government or society can allow a war zone to exist without immediate and effective action.

Maoists

I am fully aware of the fact that earlier in the year, many villagers in Nandigram who were perceived as sympathisers of the ruling establishment had been obliged to leave the villages and seek shelter in Khejuri. I am also aware of the apprehensions that some Maoists, their numbers being unverified, are believed to have entered the area.

Those who had to flee to Khejuri must come back with full confidence and dignity. And no quarter should be given to the cult of violence associated with Maoists. But the manner in which the “recapture” of Nandigram villages is being attempted is totally unlawful and unacceptable.

Medha attack

I find it equally unacceptable that while Nandigram has been ingressed with ease by armed people on the one hand, political and non-political persons trying to reach it have been violently obstructed. Some of them were bearing relief articles for the homeless. The treatment meted out to Smt Medha Patkar and other associates of hers last evening was against all norms of civilised political behaviour.

CPM meeting

A group of five MPs and one MLA representing the CPIM met me this morning and urged me “to apply my good offices for the peace processes in Nandigram”.

Peace is the need of the hour in Nandigram. For that peace to come, I told them, effective action will have to be taken in terms of action initiated against those responsible for the March 14 events in due process.

Immediate steps

The alert and observant people of West Bengal have a right to know that following discussions with political leaders like Smt Mamata Banerjee, MP Shri Partha Chatterjee, Leader of the Opposition, West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Shri Pradip Bhattacharya, Working President, West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, Shri Manash Bhuiyan and non-political persons, I have been in regular communication with the Honourable Chief Minister Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and requested the state government to take certain immediate steps. These include (i) the immediate return of the ingressers (ii) the giving of urgent relief to the displaced persons in Nandigram and (iii) the facilitation of their return to their homes.

Remove roadblocks

I have also asked the administration to remove the new unauthorised manmade blocks at entry points to

1. Chandipur-Rai Para-Phulni More-Khadinbari- Nadia

2. Nandakumar-Kapaseria -Ferry to cross over to Nandigram

3. Heria-Nandigram

4. Potashpur-Nandigram

in order that the isolation of Nandigram from the rest of the state ends.

I have made it clear that unless these steps are taken within hours and the syndrome of “capture and recapture” is not ended, the beginnings for a resumed dialogue through the package announced by the chief secretary last night will not get off the ground and the peace talks process will remain grounded. Peace talks must resume soon and, despite the lateness of the hour, I welcome the pragmatic optimism expressed in this regard by our elder statesman, Shri Jyoti Basu.

Let me conclude by saying Enough is Enough. Peace and security should be restored, without any delay from where they have been evicted from Nandigram.

Governor's 'cold horror' speech

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/15/stories/2007031521071600.htm

15.3.2007
Expressing anguish at the turn of events in Nandigram on Wednesday, West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi hoped that the State Government would ensure that such incidents would not repeat.
His statement read:
"The news of deaths by police firing in Nandigram this morning has filled me with a sense of cold horror. We will soon know more details of the sequence of events that led to this tragedy. But the point uppermost in my mind is not `who started it,' `who provoked it' or whether there were agent-provocateurs behind it. Investigations will reveal that. The thought in my mind — and of all sensitive people now is — `Was this spilling of human blood not avoidable? What is the public purpose served by the use of force that we have witnessed today?'
"Force against anti-national elements, terrorists, extremists, insurgents, is one thing. The receiving end of the force used today does not belong to that order.
"What I advised Government over the last two days, as I received inputs of rising tension in Nandigram, Government knows. It is not my intention to enter into blame-fixing. But I cannot be so casual to the Oath I have taken as to restrict my reaction to a pious expression of anguish and outrage. I trust the Government will not only go into the whys and wherefores of this tragic occurrence but will also ensure that it leaves no room for a repetition of the kind of trauma witnessed today.
"I leave it to the conscience of officials responsible to atone for the event in the manner they deem fit. But I also expect the Government to do what it thinks is necessary to mitigate the effects of this bitter March 14, and to do it visibly and fast."