OneWorld.net (U.S.)

New Delhi: If it was Kolkata that had an eerie silence on Monday in the wake of the strike by several political parties in protest against the recent happenings in Nandigram, the reverberations could also be heard in Delhi, where members of civil society came out in protest against the highhandedness of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led West Bengal government in dealing with the people fighting for their rights.

Memorandum submitted to West Bengal Resident Commissioner by the protestors here in New Delhi criticized the state government saying that it was a shame that members of the ruling party were illegally and forcibly stopping media, journalists and teams of fact-finding missions from entering the Nandigram area and indicated that there was much to hide.

Notwithstanding the claims made by CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat that the opposition party Trinamool Congress was hand-in-glove with the armed Maoists in the area, the fact remains that the West Bengal government has failed to resolve the stand off amicably and has instead resorted to forcibly suppressing the people’s movement.

Acting on the petition filed by Sanjay Parikh, an advocate, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent notice to chief secretary, West Bengal, directing him to submit a factual report within 10 days on the conditions prevailing in Nandigram and around. The Commission has also decided to send a team to visit the disturbed areas.

Medha Patkar, who was attacked by the CPI (M) cadres last week, has said that a war like situation was prevailing due to the presence of thousands of party cadres, surrounding Nandigram from at least three sides. She has expressed the fear that this situation might lead to “serious and unprecedented bloodshed”.

It may be recalled that in March this year, at least 14 people had died in Nandigram due to police firing. The villagers were protesting the acquisition of their 25,000 acres of land for an Indonesia-based company, Salim Group, for setting up a giant chemical hub. Nandigram has been witnessing sporadic violence since then, resulting in many more deaths and destruction of property.

Source: NHRC, Indian Express and Hindustan Times