| 1. 'There has been no genocide in Nandigram'-says | | | | areas there has been a bumper crop of illiteracy |
| Jyoti Basu. | | | | in the last thirty years. |
| What is the basis of your claim, Mr Jyoti Basu? | | | | The uprooted people of Garbeta -Salbani-will they |
| Now that you have put the government at Delhi | | | | take training for working in the steel factory? An |
| inside your pocket, Somnath is going to be the | | | | absolute lie! And will they get job? Again, an |
| President, Malini the speaker, and all the provinces | | | | absolute lie! Will they have share in the industry? |
| of India will hail the CPIM by hoisting red flag, | | | | Another absolute lie! |
| uprooting and dispossessing people from land, and | | | | Zindal has come to install a SEZ. He has got to |
| scorching the country- the land- the people to | | | | say these things. We know, Buddhadev will gift |
| ashes by means of Napalm bomb. | | | | everything to Zindal on a |
| No, Jyotibabu! Your European coaching, your | | | | rything, which Garbeta-Salbani did not get in the |
| record of a fellow-traveller with Indira-nothing will | | | | last thirty years; because this is the way of the |
| avail you. Because what you have been | | | | Left Front government. |
| witnessing everywhere --be it Singur, or Haripur, | | | | At Singur the government acquired the land by |
| or Nandigram- has never been witnessed in the | | | | blatant violation of 1894 land acquisition law. Then |
| past has It is not just you or we; it is | | | | it gifted to Tata that same law, which is still in |
| unprecedented to the whole India. This is | | | | force. Because the law has not yet been changed. |
| 'Janayuddha = peoples' war". We have burst out in | | | | No new law has been introduced in this regard. |
| joy and hope at seeing this rebellious face of the | | | | There is no other law except this 1894 law. That |
| mass. And you (You and your left front) have | | | | law lays out, -- in case the government seeks to |
| been scared. By misappropriating billions and billions | | | | acquire any land in public interest, for instance |
| of Panchayat money through corrupt device you | | | | constructing railways, airport, hospital, etc., then |
| can win a few Panchayat elections. | | | | the government will not have to account for it to |
| Ābir-sprayed romping 'cadres of future' can | | | | any higher authority. The government will report it |
| be displayed on the TV screen. | | | | to the district magistrate. The rest of the work |
| But Jyotibabu! You must be taught the meaning | | | | will be done from the district magistrate's office. |
| of the word 'genocide'. Let me teach you the | | | | If some industrialist or businessman wants to do |
| implications of your own achievement. You are | | | | this there are other rules forthat.(See page 10 of |
| like the Everest, aren't you! In comparison I am | | | | my book,' Singur theke Nandigram --'From Singur |
| just a poor 'dungri' ( a small mound). You are | | | | to Nandigram'). On no account can the state |
| yourself a SEZ, who has created other SEZs. For | | | | government do this. Yet in the case of Singur it is |
| instance the other day your people usurped , with | | | | the state government which has precisely done |
| the active support of State Housing Board, the | | | | this. |
| land of /for playground and high school at Golf | | | | On basis of what law? In order to start SEZs on |
| Green. | | | | a large scale , the state government framed a |
| Don't you like the word 'GaņahatyÄ' | | | | new law. Its name is 'Industrial and Infrastructural |
| (genocide)? How can you go on with such | | | | Development Act'. This evil design is certainly the |
| amnesia? Just go on repeating the name | | | | brain child of Buddha+Nirupam+other front |
| Marichjhanpi, like one counting the beads. Certainly | | | | partners who have neither any 'voice' nor nay |
| you'll recall the idea of 'GaņahatyÄ'. Of | | | | conscience nor wisdom. |
| course some 'no-good' refugees died. Still! What | | | | Zindal+ Garbeta-Salbani?=SEZ! Will gobble up |
| audacity did they show! They set up huts, built | | | | Haldia? -SEZ! Will restore peace to Nandigram? - |
| embankments, did farming, even installed some | | | | this is also prompted by SEZ design. North |
| smallscale industries! What arrogance indeed! All | | | | Bengal+elsewhere+ RajarHat + the housing |
| this they managed to do without the assistance | | | | projects everywhere+ motel-shopping mall, etc., |
| of Tata-Salim-Zindal-Ambani, et al. On the other | | | | etc.? All this is related to SEZ. The lies shouted by |
| hand, what you and your people had been | | | | Bikashranjan(Mayor of Kolkata) in support of |
| perpetrating was 'GaņahatyÄ', | | | | Ambani? - it's dictated by SEZ. The beating the |
| Jyotibabu. It was exactly the same thing that | | | | Ambani group received while trying to hijack the |
| happened on 14/03/07 in Nandigram. I am sorry, | | | | markets of Indore and Delhi?-it's the SEZ story. |
| that I had to remind a know-all humbug like you | | | | And CHEMICAL HUB? - all this is connected with |
| of the meaning of a Bengali word, that is , | | | | SEZ. |
| 'GaņahatyÄ'. | | | | The name of the province which is a total failure |
| 2. Now a few words about Zindal+Buddhadev. My | | | | in literacy, in delivering the goods through the |
| first query-how can so much land, vested and | | | | Panchayat system, in rendering the minimum |
| acquired by the government, can lie fallow and | | | | services in health, is West Bengal. What is the |
| unused? Why didn't the government distribute | | | | name of the city where the municipal corporation |
| that land and the poor-landless? Furthermore, are | | | | itself builds illegal constructions by filling up ponds |
| the Zindals paying the peasants directly for the | | | | and canals? - It is Kolkata. Where are the |
| farmland that the Zindals are going to acquire? | | | | police-administration completely obliging to the |
| Is that land marked in the Land Revenue record | | | | 'boss', and carrying out the dictates of the 'boss' |
| as 'forest land'? If that's the case, then they must | | | | with perfect servility?-It is in West Bengal. What is |
| make alternative aforestation on area of equal | | | | the name of the city where the public, especially |
| measure prior to acquiring the land. Again, is there | | | | women, beat up a notorious lumpen anti-social to |
| any one of the scheduled tribe among those | | | | death? Why, Kolkata of course! |
| owners to be uprooted from the land? In that | | | | Where every day Lakshaman Seth's cadres fire |
| case the land cannot be acquired. Acquisition of | | | | bullets and hurl bombs from this side of the |
| adibasi land is not permissible under the laws. | | | | Talpatti canal towards the other bank? Why, of |
| Then this job for one from each uprooted family! | | | | course in 'your name, my name-Nandigram!' Again, |
| Zindal is probably too naïve. Under this | | | | where is it that doctors have been working hand |
| left-front rule, during the revolutionary regime of | | | | in hand with common men and women, where |
| Jyoti-Buddha, the poor have the only option of | | | | the students have come forward and have been |
| working as labor in others' land + working as | | | | rendering the right , necessary service , to meet |
| 'nÄmÄl'(hired contract labor) in other | | | | the need of the hour? It is in Nandigram, in |
| districts, or other provinces. (for instance, every | | | | Nandigram, no, we won't accept SEZ, we won't |
| year 60,000 to 70, 000 labors go from Tebhaga+ | | | | allow chemical hub. |
| Kakdwip to Andhra+ Orissa as contractors' labor. | | | | West Bengal! The rest of India has been eagerly |
| This is the grim fact. | | | | watching your people. |
| ''Education for All' is a huge sham in this province. | | | | [Author: Mahasweta Devi; Translation by Rama |
| Here, particularly in the districts of West | | | | Kundu from the original Bengali in Dainik |
| Medinipore+ Purulia+Bankura and also in other | | | | Statesman. |