KOLKATA: The movement against the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government's bid to acquire farmlands seems poised for a fresh showdown with Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind's Siddiqullah Chowdhury emerging as a potent force.
After his initial success at Baruipur, Chowdhury is doing the rounds in the districts in a bid to fan sentiments among the peasants, especially Muslims.
And this, days after the Trinamul Congress rally in Singur turned into a flop show. Chowdhury on Friday held a meeting at Krishnangar in Nadia and will address a gathering in Singur, though unlike Baruipur, Bhangar and Nandigram, Singur has a low Muslim population.
The <b>Krishi Jami Raksha Committee</b> has also invited Chowdhury to join the movement."I am game to such joint movements,"Chowdhury said.
The new development is worrying the Left. For many devout Muslims owing political allegiance to CPM, and other Left Front partners such as Forward Bloc, RSP, and the CPI went to attend the Jamait Ulema-I-Hind's gathering in Baruipur and Nandigram.
"They are a dangerous force. Don't pamper them,"CM Buddhadeb said. The CM also ruled out inviting Jamait Ulema-i-Hind to table talks over land acquisition."Why should I? I am not going to wage war with them,"he said.
The matter came up in the CPI state secretariat meeting as well."We are concerned. For the movement, though against land acquisition, might go out of Chowdhury's hands because chances are there that <b>fundamentalists might use the innocent Muslims to bring about a polarisation on religious lines</b>,"CPI state secretary Manju Majumdar said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->What? The 'secular' communists warning their comrade followers off from 'fundamentalists' taking over the movement? They are referring to islamic fundamentalists, of course, hence the necessary contrast with 'the innocent muslims' that follows. They are blatantly accusing islam of communalism when stating how muslims in the region could be used 'to bring about a polarisation on religious lines'. Gasp! Shock!
Where is the All-India Secular Brigade, ever-ready to defend the rights of the slighted Indian ummah? Isn't this communist communalism reprehensible, why aren't The Usual Pseculars and their psecular christomedia up-in-arms? Why haven't they pounced on this - is it merely because this time it's the never-can-do-wrong communists who are referring to 'islamic fundamentalism'?
May this friction between the communist and islamic political forces in W Bengal be the beginning of a beautiful enmity, one that will blossom to have both ideologies crush each other to dust without affecting anyone else. Tataastu. Perfect love match, Made In Pardees.
One question. What is the Krishi Jami Raksha Committee? What is its ideology?
STATESMAN editorial on the dangerous implications of the rise of Jamat e ulema e Hind
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Whatâs the beef ?
A tangled web of communalism and reform
Whatâs the beef? The Jamait-e-Ulema-Hind ought to answer this simple poser before it steps up its sudden bout of shadow-boxing with that embodiment of secular fundamentalism, the Communist Party of India (Marxist). On the face of it, the raising of the voice and the posturing appear to be a fallout of the impasse at Nandigram. And it would be no disrespect to religious sentiment to suggest that the current move to weave a tangled web of communalism and reform could well turn out to be by far the most distressing feature of contemporary Bengalâs economic history. As alarming as the Jamait claim that it has the support of the Forward Bloc, a part of the establishment, and the radical Left. The land question is an emotive social and economic issue that lends no scope to play the communal card. It is a sinister attempt to make the scenario still more volatile. And this makes it imperative for the Jamait to come upfront. Above all, it needs to spell out its objections to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjeeâs agenda. Granted that the tract in question at Nandigram is dotted with masjids, it is a matter serious enough to be sorted out at the highest level. The Chief Minister has owned up to the governmentâs blunder and has kept the entire issue, including the shrines, in abeyance. He has now described the Jamait as âa dangerous organisationâ and Mr Jyoti Basu has been rather more blunt by calling it a âcommunal outfitâ. Beyond such labels, the authorities must realise that the organisationâs capacity to make the waters murkier is considerable. The responsibility to clear the air must also rest with the Forward Bloc and, to an extent, the Election Commission as well. If indeed it has been provided with papers with the express purpose of contesting as a national party against the CPI-M, the development calls for an official announcement and not a disclosure at a communal rally in Krishnagar, headquarters of a district that borders Bangladesh.
Indeed, the communal factor has been revived five years after the terrorist attack on the American Center when the Chief Minister had warned against the demographic shift and the mushroom growth of unaffiliated fundamentalist madrasas in the border districts. The virus has permeated the land, both fertile and fallow, with the inevitable cheering from the sidelines across the border. It is an ominous trend if the Forward Bloc exploits the issue to discredit the CPI-M. The land question may be only incidental.
Traffic in Kolkata came to a halt for nearly an hour on Tuesday after the workers of Trinamool Congress and Youth Congress set up barricades and stoned buses in renewed protests against acquisition of agricultural land for the Tatas at Singur. They also burnt effigies of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and damaged a state bus and private bus as they set up road blocks from 2:00 pm at Hazra crossing near Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjeeâs residence in south Kolkata, police said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
02-17-2007, 10:16 AM (This post was last modified: 02-18-2007, 05:24 AM by Husky.)
Communists fear for their authoritarian Commutopia in WBengal; they can't abide the thought of its slipping from their hands into those of the forceful Faithful and that WB could become an islamic pardees in future.
(Such fears are common. The christoislamicommunists are always converting each other anyway, 'cause none of the variations of this violent, destructive ideology is satisfying to people.)
<b>Menacing Development</b>
The popularity, and the mileage, that the <b>Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind</b> has gained recently for its espousal of the cause of farmers bode ill for Bengal. I'm not going into the debate over the nature of this organisationâmany, including Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and his predecessor Jyoti Basu, have tagged it as a communal outfit. Its chief, Siddiqullah Choudhury, is no doubt playing the communal card by stating that the Bengal government has chosen land that mostly belongs to or is cultivated by Muslims for acquisition for industrial and other projects. He charges the Bengal government with discriminating against Muslims. One must say that whatever the Left Front government in Bengal is, it is not an anti-minority or communal one. The Jamait's actions and statements are dangerous since they have the potential to polarise the people of the state. Such statements will only serve to push many Hindus towards the Sangh Parivaar which won't miss the opportunity to cash in on the situation and strengthen its vicious and vile presence in Bengal. This should be avoided at all costs. Bengal has been free from the menace of communalism and the vicious Sangh parivaar (including the BJP) ought to be kept away from Bengal. The only way this can be done is by impressing upon the Jamait that its course of action is fraught with <b>dangerous consequences</b>.
(Watch out islamis. This is communist-speak for "this means war".)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
(1) So if the reds say the islamis are communal, then they are? But if anyone else says it, they'll cry foul.
(2) Unless they get a dar-ul-islam, Islamics will always say they are discriminated against. They will always play the communal card (so too the reds, of course). Where's the surprise? Is it special because in this case the communists are the ones to get stung? Well, if you play with scorpions...
(3) Would the islamis and reds hurry up and purge each other from Bengal.
Violence again flared up on Sunday in Nandigram, the site of violent protests over the proposed acquisition of land for a SEZ, as bombs were hurled, gunshots fired and people beaten up.
Since Saturday night, bombs were being hurled from Khejuri towards Nandigram and gunshots were heard in Kedorabarchak area, a PTI correspondent said.
Sporadic clashes have occurred since Friday night in Nandigram between supporters of the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee, which is spearheading the protest against land acquisition for a SEZ to be set up there by Indonesia's Salem Group.
Satyen Karan, a resident of Dangra locality, was beaten up when he went to Tekhali Bazar on Saturday and found his shop being looted.
Karan, who filed a complaint with the police, was admitted to a primary health centre in Nandigram.
A copy of the complaint, with the police seal, was shown to the correspondent.
Amalendu Maity, who was injured by armed persons on Saturday, was released after first-aid. He also informed police about the attack.
Houses were set ablaze, shops were looted and some people were reported missing from the area on Saturday.
The Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee on Sunday organised a procession in Tekhali Bazar to protest the looting of shops and damage to property on Saturday.
BUPC convenor Sheikh Sufiyan on Sunday vowed that the body would resist attempts by the CPI-M to foment trouble in the area. He said 11 shops were looted in Tekhali Bazar on Saturday.
BUPC members alleged that a mob of 200 to 300 CPI-M supporters set ablaze four houses, including a bakery at Tekhali Bazar village, where jewellery and garment shops were looted.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->CPI-M is a model to KKKomrades worldwide. They need to get more publicity for such wonderful actions as setting houses and stores on fire. That's the way to fight for the working man and ensure prosperity and food-for-all: kill his livelihood and destroy his home! Makes one feel fuzzy and warm when hearing the word 'Revolution'.
And these commies claims, they are working for poor people. They are just third rated exploiters. They started riots in Delhi suburb last years just to get extort monthly payments from other business. They are parasite/cancer.
They call 'Revolution' but skip "violent" when in front of TV.
02-19-2007, 04:52 AM (This post was last modified: 02-19-2007, 04:52 AM by Husky.)
The ruling communists in WB have decided to put their schemes on the backburner for a while. Probably just until they have no competition from islamics or other contenders for WB throne. So now the communists are trying to sugar it up with 'The People'.
"Give The People what they want for now. Just so they think they have a say." (Well, it's better than the communist pyromania: burning The People's stores and homes. That proved unpopular, hence the backtracking.)
Faced with mounting protest in Singur and Nandigram, the CPI(M) Polit Bureau has asked the West Bengal Government not to go by the wishes of the landholders in acquiring land for either Special Economic Zones or industrial purposes.
Â
"There is no question of any land being acquired for the SEZ projects, as in Nandigram, against the wishes of the people," party general secretary Prakash Karat said on Sunday.
The issue of Tata's automobile factory in Singur, proposed SEZ in Nandigram, the popular resistance and the division within the Left Front were discussed threadbare during the two-day Polit Bureau meeting. The party's highest decision-making body told the West Bengal Chief Minister not to venture into new land acquisitions without taking both political parties and the people into confidence.
The message became apparent when Karat said that "SEZ proposals would be finalised after the changes in the SEZ Act and rules are brought at the Central level.''
Â
The observers here see this as a retreat for the party in face of stiff resistance against land acquisition in West Bengal both by the Opposition and the Left Front partners. Even Left aligned intellectuals condemned the State Government for violation of human rights and the use of police for forceful land acquisition in Singur.
Giving a face-saver to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Karat said that it would be wrong to blame West Bengal Government entirely as SEZ is a Central Government policy. He said that the Act is amended on the lines the CPI(M) has demanded, any new proposals should be put on hold.
"The Polit Bureau concluded that the State Government should apply the criteria for land conversion based on the land use policy adopted by the State Government," Polit Bureau said.
The Polit Bureau on Sunday also decided to launch a nationwide agitation on the issue of price rise on February 27. It called upon all party units to conduct agitation against the price rise.
Karat told the media persons that on that day, the State units will organise picketing and court arrest outside Central or State Government offices all over the country.
Besides, the Polit Bureau has asked the UPA Government to curb future trading in foodgrains and essential commodities, revision of tax structure for petroleum products and for ensuring adequate procurement of foodgrains at prices fair to farmers.
The party has asked the Government to put a stop to backdoor entry of FDI in retail trade and stop encouraging big Indian corporate houses in the retail.
"Their entry would cause similar displacement for the small traders, like if the sector is opened for FDI," Karat told reporters.
(Bleeding hearts. They're just trying to stay in power.)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Urdu now 2nd language in Bengal</b>
Pioneer.com
After getting a bloody nose from the Jamiat-Ulema-I-Hind in the peasants' movement in Nandigram may affect ruling Left Front's minority votes,<b> the West Bengal Government is planning to win back the Muslim electorate through a host of schemes that include recognising Urdu as the second State language</b>, besides launching a massive publicity blitzkrieg to hold back the minority alienation, so to say.
In a brief statement, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Wednesday said his Government was taking steps to accord the 'most favoured language' status to Urdu. "We are taking steps to recognise Urdu as second State language," the Chief Minister said, adding the scheme will apply in selective areas to begin with and "the district magistrates have been told about the Government's plans."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This boat is going to sink very fast.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Court gives Buddha a jab </b> link
Saugar Sengupta | Kolkata
'Singur land grab appears illegal'
CPM in turmoil
The Calcutta High Court on Friday gave yet another rap on the Left Front Government's knuckles for forcibly acquiring land in Singur for the Tata Motors' small car project. Expressing doubt about the Government's claim that land had been acquired through consent, a Division Bench of acting Chief Justice Bhashkar Bhattacharya and Justice KK Prasad directed the Government to file an affidavit within four weeks providing details of land acquisition, with special mention of those farmers who had offered to give up their land in writing.
Questioning whether land could be acquired simultaneously under two set of laws, the court directed the Government to submit the total number of farmers who gave up their land and the compensation they received. Appearing for the Government, Advocate-General Balai Roy said since the land had been acquired as per two sets of laws, the farmers had been paid a higher price than they could have otherwise got.
The court said West Bengal's process for acquiring land in Singur for the Tata Motors' small car project prima facie appeared to be illegal.
.....
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Violence erupts again in Nandigram </b>
Kolkata
Violence erupted again on Tuesday in West Bengalâs Nandigram with clashes breaking out between ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist supporters and members of a group fighting against land acquisition for a proposed Special Economic Zone in the area.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Six killed, 15 injured in Nandigram police firing</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->At least six people were killed while 15 others were seriously injured after a large contingent of police entered Nandigram in east Midnapore district and opened fire and clashed with local people on Wednesday morning. Unconfirmed reports put the death toll to more than 10.
The Trinamool Congress has called for a 12-hour Bangla bandh on Friday.
Eye witnesses said the trouble started when the police contingent started entering the controversial area, which had been a focal point of controversy for the past few months over villagersâ resistance to build in an SEZ there, from the Bhangabera side.
According to eye-witnesses, the police fiercely combated all attempts from the villagers who were trying to prevent them. There was a procession of women which came in between the cross fire and many fell dead.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Imagine, if this happen in Gujarat,
Queen will scream from her lungs "its communal BJP" "Aam Adami suffering". Midnight meeting of CCS. Whole commie media mafia on every channel calling Hindus as communal.
Now these idiots have nothing to say for their own family. Karat and Queen are still busy with pillow talking.
Shame !!!
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Mar 14 2007, 08:01 PM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Mar 14 2007, 08:01 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Six killed, 15 injured in Nandigram police firing</b><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->At least six people were killed while 15 others were seriously injured after a large contingent of police entered Nandigram in east Midnapore district and opened fire and clashed with local people on Wednesday morning. Unconfirmed reports put the death toll to more than 10.
The Trinamool Congress has called for a 12-hour Bangla bandh on Friday.
Eye witnesses said the trouble started when the police contingent started entering the controversial area, which had been a focal point of controversy for the past few months over villagersâ resistance to build in an SEZ there, from the Bhangabera side.
According to eye-witnesses, the police fiercely combated all attempts from the villagers who were trying to prevent them. There was a procession of women which came in between the cross fire and many fell dead.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Imagine, if this happen in Gujarat,
Queen will scream from her lungs "its communal BJP" "Aam Adami suffering". Midnight meeting of CCS. Whole commie media mafia on every channel calling Hindus as communal.
Now these idiots have nothing to say for their own family. Karat and Queen are still busy with pillow talking.
Shame !!!
[right][snapback]65611[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Queen was kept fully informed by CPIM before the police action. CPIM has done a deal with Congress. Congress will make some noise but will not do anything. So what will Congress get in return? CPIM will now allow the UPA govt to carry out some reforms like labor laws.
If indeed there is a deal like that then INC will get a bigger share of blame for implementing the labor laws while CPIM can get away with just killing 20-30 (still counting) poor bengalis.
<!--QuoteBegin-rajesh_g+Mar 15 2007, 01:26 AM-->QUOTE(rajesh_g @ Mar 15 2007, 01:26 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->If indeed there is a deal like that then INC will get a bigger share of blame for implementing the labor laws while CPIM can get away with just killing 20-30 (still counting) poor bengalis.
[right][snapback]65626[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Not necessarily. Manmohon Singh hinted recently how foreign investors can come to India when he said that 90 % of Indian economy is outside the organized sector and thus out of reach of labor laws. So they might find some way to exempt new manufacturing units from the restrictive labor laws instead of changing the laws themselves.
CPIM has killed more than 20 or 30. We will never know. The 3000 police men are being supported by the storm troopers, the CPIM cadres. These cadres will now enforce red terror and also dump bodies into the nearby river so that those bodies will flow out to the nearby sea.
CPIM achieves 2 things by this action.
1. There has been an upsurge in islamic activity recently because Nandigram is 50 % muslim. This is deeply worrying CPIM since muslim % is steadily rising there. So this action in which CPIM killed a lot of muslims is meant to signal to the muslims not to mess with CPIM.
2. There has also been a rise in copy cat Nandigram style resistance to land takeover. These peasants have been sent a signal also.
Congress leadership was consulted beforehand by CPIM. This is why they are keeping mum. Sonia's concern is for public consumption only.
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Nandigram: Congress keeps mum
[ 15 Mar, 2007 0116hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates
NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday appeared on the horns of 'Nandi' dilemma as the party leadership fumbled to play the opposition in the wake of Nandigram killings, exposing it to charges that it was gagged by Left's support to UPA.
The fear of taking on an ally was evident as mere expressions of concern and aggressive justification of its muted response on West Bengal killings on "the need to restore calm" came in the midst of its vocal reactions to the incidents in rival-ruled Uttar Pradesh.
In a statement, party president Sonia Gandhi "expressed her deep concern on the situation in Nandigram" and asked the party's state unit to send a report while also advising it to help the injured.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Not necessarily. Manmohon Singh hinted recently how foreign investors can come to India when he said that 90 % of Indian economy is outside the organized sector and thus out of reach of labor laws. So they might find some way to exempt new manufacturing units from the restrictive labor laws instead of changing the laws themselves.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was speaking from a rhetorical point of view. Here you have commies, the protector of aam-aadmi and here you have congies who have come to power because of their feelings for aam-aadmi. Commies can slaughter a few and the incident will probably be forgotten. But come election time labor law reforms will hit the union-support. In terms of bargain, commies have a plus and congies have a big minus methinks. I doubt if any labor reforms will come in until next LS elections.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Tiananmen in Nandigram</b>
Saugar Sengupta | Kolaghat / Kolkata
Buddha's police slaughter 15; scores injured
Mamata stopped on way to killing fields, gheraoed by CPM cadre in Tamluk; West Bengal bandh on Friday
Drawing inspiration from Deng Xiaoping, West Bengal's Marxist Chief Minister <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Wednesday unleashed his police and party cadre on the farmers of Nandigram who have been resisting forcible acquisition of their land for a Special Economic Zone project. In the bloodbath that followed, at least 15 men and women were shot dead in cold blood and scores of others injured.</span>
<b>Eyewitnesses to this state-sponsored massacre, reminiscent of the slaughter at Tiananmen Square, have provided vivid details of how policemen, who were provided covering fire by CPI(M) cadre, marched on to this village in East Midnapore district, shooting protesters on sight. When wailing women came to retrieve the fallen, they were assaulted with ferocity that would shame wild animals.</b>
On June 3, 1989, tanks of Deng's Red Army had literally crushed peaceful demonstrators demanding democracy at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. That massacre occurred in the dead of night. Wednesday's slaughter of those protesting Marxist strong-arm tactics in Nandigram happened in broad daylight.
Soon after news of Wednesday's brutality spread, anger erupted into protests at Kolkata, Hooghly, East and West Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas, Malda, Coochbehar and elsewhere. The Forward Bloc, an ally of the CPI(M), has called a dusk-to-dawn bandh in Cooch Behar. Another Marxist ally, the RSP, has sought an immediate meeting of the Left Front.
West Bengal has been shaken as never before by the mindless killings ordered by the CPI(M)-led Left Front Government. link
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Advani intervenes</b>
Pioneer.com
Late Wednesday night, Leader of the Opposition LK Advani attempted to speak to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeking his immediate intervention to stop the CPI(M)'s rampage against Mamata Banerjee, other <b>Opposition parties and innocent people of Nandigram. However, the Prime Minister was "pre-occupied" and said he would discuss the issue threadbare with Advani on Thursday</b>.
Advani thereafter contacted Home Minister Shivraj Patil who said that obtaining a <b>detailed and accurate report on Wednesday's incidents was a "good idea". </b>Patil promised to activate the official mechanism to find out the precise facts of the ongoing violence.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd--> <!--emo&:thumbdown--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' /><!--endemo-->
People are dying and Moron Singh is pre-occupied and joker Patil says its a "Good Idea"
