Op-Ed in Pioneer, 22 March 2007
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Who SEZ it's the right way
Nandigram violence has raised a few valid questions regarding the viability of Special Economic Zones in the country, says Bulbul Roy Mishra
<b>The Nandigram killings</b> that have sent cold horror down many a spine have expectedly raised the following valid questions. <b>Were it planned by the Marxist Government, headed by Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, purportedly to regain control over the village? Or, was it masterminded by some party insiders to discredit their Chief Minister and his reform agenda? </b>
Given the Marxist track record of intolerance and violence, why the people of West Bengal, year after year, voted them to power? Was the land acquisition by the State from unwilling farmers for the proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) justified? And lastly, is the Centre-approved SEZ scheme desirable for India?
As for the first poser, it looks prima facie absurd for an enlightened and reformist Chief Minister like Mr Bhattacharjee to resort to the 'class war' in Maoist style to eliminate opposition comprising unarmed farmers, their women and children. <b>It is more likely that the Nandigram shoot-out was cleverly planned by some party insiders who may not have approved of Mr Bhattacharjee's SEZ over-drive on the ground of being pro-capitalist.</b>
As to the question why the Bengalis, known for their intellect, have for last three decades consistently voted the Marxists to power, one has to understand the Bengali middle class psyche. Influenced innately by the tradition of equality demonstrated by Chaitanya and Ramakrishna, and the philosophy of Vedantic socialism enunciated by Swami Vivekananda, <b>an average Bengali</b>, while worshipping Goddesses Durga and Kali with fanfare, <b>finds no contradiction in the Marxist prescription of equality and struggle against exploitation, while rejecting Naxalite violence and showing dislike for the stagnant democratic system that enables the rich to exploit the poor.</b>
Let me now dwell upon the question of land acquisition for industrialisation at the expense of agriculture. The only justification is that China has achieved record growth in GDP and exports through SEZs and so will India, if it follows China.
True that some of the provinces in China, notably Guangdong, thanks to its SEZ in Shenzen, have grown at a rate of over 25 per cent for the last quarter of a century. But the price it has paid is not commensurate with the gain. Between 1992 and 2005, 20 million farmers became victims of land acquisition with over 21 per cent arable land grabbed by SEZs.
The Government of China admitted to 74,000 riots in the countryside in 2004. Shenzen was designated as a 'global environmental hotspot' by the UN Environment Programme in 2006. According to the World Bank Report, about 300,000 people die every year in China owing to environmental problem caused by massive industrialisation. The pollution reportedly costs China about $200 billion annually amounting to 10 per cent of its GDP. The crime rate in Shenzen is estimated as nine-fold higher than Shanghai and prostitution as also income-inequality have increased many times.
<b>As to the question of desirability of SEZs for India, the following points are pertinent. </b>First, the <b>household consumption in India being 68 per cent of the GDP as against 38 per cent in China, export-driven economy through SEZs is not viable for India.</b> Therefore, SEZs may end up becoming import corridor, given the benefit of exemption and scope of invoice manipulation in the absence of Customs scrutiny. <b>Second, the consumption in SEZs being tax free and cheaper, poor outside consumers will have to pay a higher price for same goods and services.</b>
<b>Third, by providing indirect tax exemptions over and above exemption from corporate tax, India has deviated from the Chinese model that only allows two years' exemption from 15 per cent corporate tax and then 50 per cent exemption for next three years. Exemptions from indirect taxes are patently unjustified in respect of consumption within the SEZs.</b>
<b>Fourth, exemptions in the 220 SEZs already created out of the 500 proposed, as against five in China, over and above area based exemptions in North-Eastern States, Jammu & Kashmir, Kutch, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, are bound to put an unbearable burden on the Finance Minister to meet the Budget deficit.</b>
<b>Last, SEZs primarily catering to domestic consumption will have undue advantage vis-Ã -vis domestic industries outside the SEZs.</b>
The only silver-lining of Nandigram is that mindless expansion of SEZs has been put on hold.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And
From Pioneer, 22 March 2007
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Police connived with Marxist cadre</b>
Saugar Sengupta | Kolkata
... further proof surfaces on Nandigram bloodbath
<b>Evidence gathered by the CBI is believed to suggest that West Bengal Police acted in connivance with the CPI(M)'s 'Harmat Brigade', comprising Marxist cadre trained in hit-and-run tactics, during the March 14 violence that claimed at least 14 lives and left scores injured at Nandigram.</b>
According to reports, the evidence suggests at least two senior IPS officials had held several meetings with a CPI(M) MP, an MLA and a zilla parishad member at the State Electricity Board guesthouse in Kolaghat where they chalked out the action plan. In order to keep the deliberations a closely guarded secret, even the District Superintendent of Police was not allowed to participate in the meetings, the last of which was held on March 13 evening.
Though CBI officials investigating the police firing have not gone on record, it is believed they have found evidence that shows Rs 50 lakh was sanctioned for the police operation. Part of the money was spent on procuring at least 50 mobile phones. Around 25,000 bullets were requisitioned.
The reports also suggest that one of the IPS officials had withdrawn to the Nandigram police station with 150 men after giving firing orders. The official subsequently feigned ignorance as to who ordered the firing. This official was in constant touch with the MP who, sources said, kept changing cell phones to converse with various persons. The politician could have used as many as 30 mobile phones, sources said.
Not only was the Chief Minister kept in the dark over what took place in Nandigram but policemen who carried out the firing were also briefed in a fuzzy manner as to what they were expected to do.
On how CPI(M) inducted outsiders for attacking the farmers, Trinamool Congress MLA from Egra Sishir Adhikary said, "The raiders came from Potashpur, Garbeta, Keshpur and Khejuri," all CPI(M) strongholds.
He also alleged that the phone of his son, Subhendu Adhikary, who is an MLA from neighbouring South Contai constituency, was constantly taped by a DIG-level official at CID headquarters at Bhavani Bhavan in Kolkata.
Sishir Adhikary claims IG Western Range, Arun Gupta, DIG NR Babu and District Magistrate East Midnapur AK Agarwal had kept constant touch with Tamluk MP Lakshman Seth, CPI(M) MLA Anabel Sahu and district board chairperson Niranjan Sihi "who directed the police from time to time".
Congress Legislature Party leader Manas Bhuian had earlier demanded an inquiry against the IG and the DIG, suggesting both were hand-in-glove with the local CPI(M) leadership.
Meanwhile, even as the Trinamool Congress boycotted the Assembly for the fourth successive day on Wednesday demanding resignation and legal action against Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the CBI that was supposed to place its findings before Calcutta High Court deferred the submission of the report to a later date. The investigative agency that has already sent a copy of its findings to its headquarters in Delhi held a meeting in Kolkata on Sunday.
Renewing his tirade against the Opposition, senior CPI(M) leader and central committee member Benoy Konar has once again threatened a counterattack. He said whatever happened at Nandigram and its aftermath was the first of a three-act play. "Two more acts are to come. But let the initial emotions subside," he said.
<b>After 7 days, PM says it's sad</b>
New Delhi: Breaking his silence after a week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday described the loss of life in police firing in Nandigram in West Bengal as 'sad' but said that the incident would not cause a setback to establishment of SEZs.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is why the Police Reforms have to be carried out in public interest and wont be for politicians interests.
Also can someone look up the polictical profile of the CPM MPs and MLAs mentioned in above report and see if they are pro-SEZ or in opposition to SEZs?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Tamluk MP Lakshman Seth, CPI(M) MLA Anabel Sahu and district board chairperson Niranjan Sihi "who directed the police from time to time".<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Who SEZ it's the right way
Nandigram violence has raised a few valid questions regarding the viability of Special Economic Zones in the country, says Bulbul Roy Mishra
<b>The Nandigram killings</b> that have sent cold horror down many a spine have expectedly raised the following valid questions. <b>Were it planned by the Marxist Government, headed by Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, purportedly to regain control over the village? Or, was it masterminded by some party insiders to discredit their Chief Minister and his reform agenda? </b>
Given the Marxist track record of intolerance and violence, why the people of West Bengal, year after year, voted them to power? Was the land acquisition by the State from unwilling farmers for the proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) justified? And lastly, is the Centre-approved SEZ scheme desirable for India?
As for the first poser, it looks prima facie absurd for an enlightened and reformist Chief Minister like Mr Bhattacharjee to resort to the 'class war' in Maoist style to eliminate opposition comprising unarmed farmers, their women and children. <b>It is more likely that the Nandigram shoot-out was cleverly planned by some party insiders who may not have approved of Mr Bhattacharjee's SEZ over-drive on the ground of being pro-capitalist.</b>
As to the question why the Bengalis, known for their intellect, have for last three decades consistently voted the Marxists to power, one has to understand the Bengali middle class psyche. Influenced innately by the tradition of equality demonstrated by Chaitanya and Ramakrishna, and the philosophy of Vedantic socialism enunciated by Swami Vivekananda, <b>an average Bengali</b>, while worshipping Goddesses Durga and Kali with fanfare, <b>finds no contradiction in the Marxist prescription of equality and struggle against exploitation, while rejecting Naxalite violence and showing dislike for the stagnant democratic system that enables the rich to exploit the poor.</b>
Let me now dwell upon the question of land acquisition for industrialisation at the expense of agriculture. The only justification is that China has achieved record growth in GDP and exports through SEZs and so will India, if it follows China.
True that some of the provinces in China, notably Guangdong, thanks to its SEZ in Shenzen, have grown at a rate of over 25 per cent for the last quarter of a century. But the price it has paid is not commensurate with the gain. Between 1992 and 2005, 20 million farmers became victims of land acquisition with over 21 per cent arable land grabbed by SEZs.
The Government of China admitted to 74,000 riots in the countryside in 2004. Shenzen was designated as a 'global environmental hotspot' by the UN Environment Programme in 2006. According to the World Bank Report, about 300,000 people die every year in China owing to environmental problem caused by massive industrialisation. The pollution reportedly costs China about $200 billion annually amounting to 10 per cent of its GDP. The crime rate in Shenzen is estimated as nine-fold higher than Shanghai and prostitution as also income-inequality have increased many times.
<b>As to the question of desirability of SEZs for India, the following points are pertinent. </b>First, the <b>household consumption in India being 68 per cent of the GDP as against 38 per cent in China, export-driven economy through SEZs is not viable for India.</b> Therefore, SEZs may end up becoming import corridor, given the benefit of exemption and scope of invoice manipulation in the absence of Customs scrutiny. <b>Second, the consumption in SEZs being tax free and cheaper, poor outside consumers will have to pay a higher price for same goods and services.</b>
<b>Third, by providing indirect tax exemptions over and above exemption from corporate tax, India has deviated from the Chinese model that only allows two years' exemption from 15 per cent corporate tax and then 50 per cent exemption for next three years. Exemptions from indirect taxes are patently unjustified in respect of consumption within the SEZs.</b>
<b>Fourth, exemptions in the 220 SEZs already created out of the 500 proposed, as against five in China, over and above area based exemptions in North-Eastern States, Jammu & Kashmir, Kutch, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, are bound to put an unbearable burden on the Finance Minister to meet the Budget deficit.</b>
<b>Last, SEZs primarily catering to domestic consumption will have undue advantage vis-Ã -vis domestic industries outside the SEZs.</b>
The only silver-lining of Nandigram is that mindless expansion of SEZs has been put on hold.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And
From Pioneer, 22 March 2007
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Police connived with Marxist cadre</b>
Saugar Sengupta | Kolkata
... further proof surfaces on Nandigram bloodbath
<b>Evidence gathered by the CBI is believed to suggest that West Bengal Police acted in connivance with the CPI(M)'s 'Harmat Brigade', comprising Marxist cadre trained in hit-and-run tactics, during the March 14 violence that claimed at least 14 lives and left scores injured at Nandigram.</b>
According to reports, the evidence suggests at least two senior IPS officials had held several meetings with a CPI(M) MP, an MLA and a zilla parishad member at the State Electricity Board guesthouse in Kolaghat where they chalked out the action plan. In order to keep the deliberations a closely guarded secret, even the District Superintendent of Police was not allowed to participate in the meetings, the last of which was held on March 13 evening.
Though CBI officials investigating the police firing have not gone on record, it is believed they have found evidence that shows Rs 50 lakh was sanctioned for the police operation. Part of the money was spent on procuring at least 50 mobile phones. Around 25,000 bullets were requisitioned.
The reports also suggest that one of the IPS officials had withdrawn to the Nandigram police station with 150 men after giving firing orders. The official subsequently feigned ignorance as to who ordered the firing. This official was in constant touch with the MP who, sources said, kept changing cell phones to converse with various persons. The politician could have used as many as 30 mobile phones, sources said.
Not only was the Chief Minister kept in the dark over what took place in Nandigram but policemen who carried out the firing were also briefed in a fuzzy manner as to what they were expected to do.
On how CPI(M) inducted outsiders for attacking the farmers, Trinamool Congress MLA from Egra Sishir Adhikary said, "The raiders came from Potashpur, Garbeta, Keshpur and Khejuri," all CPI(M) strongholds.
He also alleged that the phone of his son, Subhendu Adhikary, who is an MLA from neighbouring South Contai constituency, was constantly taped by a DIG-level official at CID headquarters at Bhavani Bhavan in Kolkata.
Sishir Adhikary claims IG Western Range, Arun Gupta, DIG NR Babu and District Magistrate East Midnapur AK Agarwal had kept constant touch with Tamluk MP Lakshman Seth, CPI(M) MLA Anabel Sahu and district board chairperson Niranjan Sihi "who directed the police from time to time".
Congress Legislature Party leader Manas Bhuian had earlier demanded an inquiry against the IG and the DIG, suggesting both were hand-in-glove with the local CPI(M) leadership.
Meanwhile, even as the Trinamool Congress boycotted the Assembly for the fourth successive day on Wednesday demanding resignation and legal action against Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the CBI that was supposed to place its findings before Calcutta High Court deferred the submission of the report to a later date. The investigative agency that has already sent a copy of its findings to its headquarters in Delhi held a meeting in Kolkata on Sunday.
Renewing his tirade against the Opposition, senior CPI(M) leader and central committee member Benoy Konar has once again threatened a counterattack. He said whatever happened at Nandigram and its aftermath was the first of a three-act play. "Two more acts are to come. But let the initial emotions subside," he said.
<b>After 7 days, PM says it's sad</b>
New Delhi: Breaking his silence after a week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday described the loss of life in police firing in Nandigram in West Bengal as 'sad' but said that the incident would not cause a setback to establishment of SEZs.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is why the Police Reforms have to be carried out in public interest and wont be for politicians interests.
Also can someone look up the polictical profile of the CPM MPs and MLAs mentioned in above report and see if they are pro-SEZ or in opposition to SEZs?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Tamluk MP Lakshman Seth, CPI(M) MLA Anabel Sahu and district board chairperson Niranjan Sihi "who directed the police from time to time".<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->