People's Democracy

(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Vol. XXXI

No. 13

April 01, 2007

Bengal CPI (M) Calls For Extensive Mass Contact 

 

THE state committee of Bengal CPI (M) met on March 24. It was resolved to put strongly forward as in the past the class content of the developmental programmes of Bengal. Development whither is answered by the fact that it is for the benefit of the kisans, the urban and rural poor, the toiling masses, and the middle class. 

 

The Bengal CPI (M) is of the firm opinion that the strong agricultural and agrarian base of Bengal should be further consolidated and extended and the state’s economy taken further forward and to newer heights through a process of pro-people industrialisation. The entire process set in motion for some time now, has already started to reach out concrete benefits to the mass of the people of Bengal.

 

Bengal CPI (M) has noted the fact that for some months in the recent past in particular, the opposition comprising the combination of right-ultra left aided and abetted by forces of religious fundamentalists of both persuasions have been hell-bent on impeding the development of the state. Incessant, ceaseless attacks, violent and armed, have been launched on the people creating a feeling of terror amidst them. 

 

INCITEMENT

 

Provocations have been indulged in, and acts of incitement resorted to in a planned manner. The forces of the extreme right have gleefully joined hands with their counterparts to the extreme left of the political spectrum to shun logic, debate, and discussion, and to push the state if they could to the very edge of anarchy through acts of omission and commission. Crassly fundamentalist propaganda, libellous in nature, is carried out with impunity. Their opposition is not just to the state’s industrialisation but also against every step taken towards an all-round and pro-people development of Bengal.

 

These worthies chose Nandigram in the district of Midnapore east to indulge in terror-tactics including mayhem and murder. The whole process started from the first week of January. Roads, bridges, culverts, and all other points of communications were systematically cut off. All works of development including the functioning of the Panchayats were brought to a standstill forcibly, at the point of guns. Police personnel were attacked, and killed. 

 

Thousands of the rural people who would not toe the anarchist line were forced again at the point of the gun to flee their home-and-hearth. Countless hutments and kutcha houses were burnt down after they had been looted bare. People were forced to pay up under threat to fuel the muscle of the opposition groups and outfits. Women were attacked, raped, and killed in the most brutal fashion. 

 

The principal target was the CPI (M). A CPI (M) worker, Sankar Samanta was kidnapped, tortured, and then set on fire while still alive. Hundreds more were beaten up, shot, stabbed, and tortured, and women CPI (M) workers were the prime targets. In all, over the recent past, 34 houses were torched, 47 looted and torched, 11 bridges and culverts were destroyed, and communicating roads cut up in 29 places, in an attempt to make Nandigram a place cut off from the rest of the state—an alarming and anarchic state of affairs. The mayhem went on for more than two-and-a-half months. 

 

Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee pointed out repeatedly that land would not be acquired at Nandigram against the will of the people. Indeed, while undertaking the process of industrialisation and other facets of development, the Bengal Left Front government had gone in for land acquisition and project implementation based on dialogue with the people. 

 

OPPOSITION ON THE WARPATH

 

Yet, the opposition would go on the warpath and try to extend the zone of anarchy and disorder outside of Nandigram, especially to Khejuri and to the industrial township of Haldia. The police and the administration would not intervene because it wanted to avoid bloodshed and thus efforts were kept alive to resolve the issue through discussions across the table. There was no response from the opposition.

 

This background has to be recalled and referred to when one considers the decision of the state government to send in the police to Nandigram on March 14 to bring back normalcy. Subsequently 14 people lost their lives from firing and from attacks on the part of those who were in the seat of fierce aggression. Many more were injured. Whatever the circumstances and compulsions that brought the situation to such a pass, the instance of people being killed is poignant and unfortunate. Nevertheless, the fact must never be glossed over that the event was the creation of the forces of anarchy and disorder. 

 

Encouraged by the turn of events of the incident, the opposition have been seen to take up the rod and method of sheer violence and disorder. An unprecedented run of rioting was indulged in throughout March 16 in the name of a bandh. Another and fresh spate of violence was sparked off by them at Nandigram and the area abutting on it. A stream of perverted and disgusting campaign of lies and distortions has been indulged in about the March 14 incident. 

DESPICABLE CONSPIRACY

 

The desperate nature of the conspiracy being hatched against the Bengal Left Front government is gradually being unmasked. An effort is on to mount a total and vicious attack on the Left movement in Bengal. There is an attempt in all this to weaken the Left at the all-India level. The CPI (M) is committed to strip the mask off and away from the face of the conspirators with resolution, and to unite the mass of the people against them. The Party would take its political outlook and point of view deep amongst the people and with fortitude and patience.

 

The CPI (M) appeals fervently to the democratic-minded people of Bengal to be alert against the terrible conspiracy to create disorder and anarchy in Bengal and to prepare to play an active role. In the meanwhile, the people have already been involved in protesting against all attempts to create disorder and lawlessness. The forces of reaction plan to create divisions and cleavages amongst the poor and the working people, to upset their unity, and to set them off against one another in a conflict situation. 

 

The CPI (M) appeals to the people to strengthen and cement further the unity of the poor and the working masses in the cities and the rural areas and to come forward in the struggle to secure their hard-earned rights. Instant mass rallies must be organised against all incidents involving spreading of tension, rumour mongering, acts of provocation and assaults.

 

PROGRAMME OF CAMPAIGN

 

From its very inception, the Bengal Left Front government has gone along the task of development through the active advise, cooperation, and participation of the mass of the people. Struggling against the antithetical all-India policies, the Bengal Left Front government had been steadfast in carrying out developmental work for the benefit of the people. In the future, too, the work must be taken to newer heights based on popular opinion and through the cooperation of the people. The CPI (M) state committee appeals to Party workers at all functioning levels to extend an ever-deeper contact amongst the people, and have the issues thoroughly discussed with them while adhering to the path of development and growth with their active participation.

Tasks