Nandigram divides intellectuals

Left Leaning intellectuals are vertically divided over the issue of land acquisition in West Bengal.

Left Leaning intellectuals are vertically divided over the issue of land acquisition in West Bengal. After some flayed the CPIM and made their displeasure known, another group led by Prabhat Patnaik today reposed faith in the state government, urging all concerned 8220;not to let the wounds of Nandigram become festering sores.8221; While condemning the loss of lives, the group appreciated the steps taken by the state in the wake of the incident.

8220;The CPIM has asked for a judicial inquiry into the tragedy. Under these circumstances, and in view of the fact that the state government has committed itself to compensating the families of the victims, all efforts must be made to ease tension in the area so as to allow numerous refugees living in makeshift camps to return home,8221; Patnaik, also the vice-chairman of the Kerala State Planning Board, said in his statement.

Others, describing themselves as those 8220;who have long been associated with the Left movement in the country8221;, who signed on the statement included Amiya Kumar Bagchi, professor, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata; Utsa Patnaik of JNU; Javeed Alam, former professor, CIEFL, Hyderabad; Mihir Bhattacharya, ex-professor, Jadavpur University; Jayati Ghosh, Mohan Rao, Nasir Tyabji and historian D N Jha.

While stating that 8220;nobody belonging to the Left would ever justify repressive action against peasants or workers who are the basic classes of the Left8221;, the signatories added that the 8220;tragedy at Nandigram on March 14 was an entirely unanticipated, unjustified and unfortunate turn of events, whose exact origin and course should be established through proper inquiry.8221;

They also drew attention to the fact that the Left Front government had announced the removal of police force from Nandigram, and the CPIM had reiterated its policy that no land would be acquired for industrial purposes without the consent of peasants and other people concerned.

Earlier, historian Sumit Sarkar, Romila Thapar and Arundhati Roy had severely criticised the West Bengal Government on the land acquisition issue, to which the CPIM had reacted by stating that the report of a fact-finding panel led by Sarkar lent credibility to Opposition allegations.