Nandigram in West Bengal has been burning! Since January 3rd this year there have been cold-blooded clashes between the villagers of Nandigram and the West Bengal Government to acquire the land for SEZ (special economic zone) development and Taslima Nasreen, the controversial Bangladeshi author.
The fight between the activists and Panchayat of Nandigram along with the Trinamool Congress leaders and the police has only caused death and destruction and left many orphan and homeless. The months long agitation brought some relief to the villagers when in February, the Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee declared that there would be no forced land acquisition in Nandigram. Nandigram acquisition has been termed as a political game guided by the financial sector.
Last week clashes broke out in Nandigram once again due to the presence of the Bangladeshi author, Taslima Nasreen in Kolkata and the attacks on Nandigram villagers by CPM cadres.
The latest on the Nandigram politics has been the apologetic statement of the West Banal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. Subsequently, adding to his troubles has been the discovery of some graves of the dead. Mamta Banerjee, TMC leader is asking the Chief Minister to resign. She raised the Nandigram issue in the Parliament and when the discussion went aggressive, the Speaker had to adjourn the house.
The Left members vociferously protested against Advani being allowed to speak with CPM leader Basudeb Acharia asking the Chair under what rule was he allowing Advani.
Amid slogan shouting by BJP-Shiv Sena members that "Communists are murderers" and "Communist high-handedness will not be tolerated", Acharia questioned allowing the issue of law and order, which is a state subject, to be raised in Parliament. This added fuel to the Opposition fire with some Shiv Sena members demanding dismissal of the Left Front Government in West Bengal for the "cold-blooded murder of farmers".
The scene was no different in Rajya Sabha when Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh rose to speak on the issue. As soon as Jaswant Singh rose to speak Brinda Karat (CPM) asked Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat under what rule the issue, a state subject, was being raised. This provoked an angry reaction from BJP members who raised slogans.
Lone Trinamool Congress member Dinesh Trivedi sought suspension of the Question Hour to take up discussion on the issue. Congress members, however, raised slogans "we want Question Hour". Sensing the mood, Shekhawat adjourned the House till 1200 hours.