The Socialist

Gopalkrishna Gandhi 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 onto villages in Nandigram Block I and II for territorial assertion. Thousands of villages have consequently been intimidated into leaving their homes in villages such as Daudpur, Amgachi, Jambani, Simulkundu, Brindabanchak, Tekhali, Nainan, Kanongochak, Takapara, Sarengabari, Ranichak, Kamalpur and Keyakhali. Even as of 4 pm this day (November 9,) I have received phone calls from responsible persons in Nandigram saying that several huts are ablaze. Large number of villagers have taken refuge in the local high school in Nandigram, bereft of food and personal security. At the time of writing, the most accurate description for Nandigram is the one used by our Home Secretary, namely, it has become a "...

by Sunil Lately, there appears to be some rift within CPM between left intellectuals and active politicians over the developments in West Bengal. During an interview with a T.V. Channel, West Bengal Chief Minister said, “Left economists are academic and not in touch with reality ........... I have read what Prabhat Patnaik has written. I don’t agree with what Patnaik has said”. (Times of India, July 1, 2007). Prabhat Patnaik, a professor of Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, has long been associate of CPM and regarded as an important ideologue of the party. He is also the Vice-Chairman of the Kerala State Planning Board since Left Democratic Front come into power there. He is also the editor of the left side academic journal ‘Social Scientists’. As a JNU Professor, he has taught many CPM stalwarts such as Sitraram Yechury. Bhattacharya’s diatribe is not limited to Patnaik alone, but also targets his wife Utsa Patnaik and Jayati Ghosh. They are also Professors of Economics in ...

West Bengal former left front minister Ashok Mitra on Nandigram Till death I would remain guilty to my conscience if I keep mum about the happenings of the last two weeks in West Bengal over Nandigram. One gets torn by pain too. Those against whom I am speaking have been my comrades at some point of time. The party, whose leadership they are adorning, has been the centre of my dreams and works for the last 60 years. Let me start with the Governor. Those who remember Anantaprasad Sharma or TV Rajeshwar would admit that it’s a great fortune of this state and the government that they have someone as gentle, well-mannered, sympathetic, modest and erudite as Gopalkrishna Gandhi as Governor. Let me also add that he had consented to the post because of the interest shown by the central leadership of the CPI(M). What has been his fault that the ruling party is so determined to declare him as its enemy? It is being said that the Governor has termed the return of those who were forced flee Nan...

Medha Patkar Nandigram continues to be a battle zone, though the battle is a one-sided one,where CPI (M) goondas and criminals fight with sophisticated arms like SLR's,AK-47's, INSAS Rifles against the unarmed common people of the region. Peopleare being slaughtered everyday with police and administration backing and allthe while that the CPI (M) goons carry out their Clean Nandigram operation, thepolice remain silent and inactive spectators. Shame on this government andadministration that does not even have a word of regret to hide their blatantGenocide or even express an iota of sympathy for so many massacred people. We have received news from various sources inside the villages that theterritories (moujas) that were to be occupied for the chemical hub are nowlying empty, deserted of all its inhabitants. Thousands of villagers have beencompelled to flee from their houses due to such incessant attacks by CPI (M)criminals. They are now living in camps in the core Nandigram area...

The Asian Human Rights Commission issued the following statement on November 13, 2007. Nandigram, a remote village in West Bengal state of India is once again in front page news in the country. This remote village in West Bengal was in the news 11 months ago when violence erupted in the village. The Communist party led state government used force to silence the protesting farmers who were agitating against the proposed acquisition of their land by the state for establishing a special economic zone. The state government with the aid of the local police and its party carders silenced the protest using brute force. The violence resulted in heavy loss of life and property, which is still not completely accounted for. On 10 November, 2007, violence erupted again in Nandigram. This time too the violence was spearheaded by the party carders of the ruling political party of West Bengal state – the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM). On the first instance and even now, the state governm...

The Socialist International issued the following statement on November 5, 2007. The Socialist International condemns the suspension of the constitution and the imposition of emergency rule in Pakistan, and calls for the immediate restoration of democratic governance and the full respect for fundamental political rights and civil liberties. The International is especially concerned by and denounces the house arrest of the Chief Justice and mass detentions of lawyers, political figures and human rights and civic activists, and calls for their immediate release. There are no political developments or social conditions that can justify this blatant resort to authoritarianism in any country. Anti-democratic behaviour, in fact, only provides further opportunities for extremists who seek to take advantage of unstable situations. The Socialist International reiterates its belief that democracy and the respect for the will of the people are the only way to peacefully and effectively resolve the...

Jalpaiguri (PTI) : Prominent social activist and leader of dalit and adivasi people, Jugal Kishore Raibeer (61) died of cancer here on Tuesday. Raibeer, who was the all-India President of the Samajbadi Jana Parishad , died at Jalpaiguri Sadar Hospital, his family said on Wednesday. Condoling his death West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gan dhi said he was devoted to the cause of the have not. Leaders and personalities from different parts of the country, including the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patekar , expressed grief over the death. Thousands of people gathered at the residence of Kishore, who was very much popular particularly among farmers and teagarden workers. Courtasy : The Hindu (Copyright © 2007, The Hindu.)