"Earlier, people used to raise slogans against the British. But it seems that in spite of the British rule coming to an end, some places in India are still being governed by Marxists who treat people the way the British treated us years ago. Whatever happened in Nandigram cannot be forgotten or forgiven," the veteran political leader said. "I am shocked by what I have seen. What the Chief Minister has done is hard to comprehend."
"By looking at the incident that took place on March 14, it seems that the State Government is following policy of Jallianwala Bagh massacre, in which the police was ordered by the British to shoot the people. In Sonachura village (in Nandigram) the police is asked to hit the people on chest and abdomen like Jallianwalla Bagh. History will never forget the incident and forgive those who committed the brutality," the BJP leader said.
"I am aware of the brutalities committed by the British, now I find CPI(M) is behaving as brutally as the British," Advani said, adding that "The Government of India should invoke Article 355 to direct the State Government to immediately stop the spiral of violence in Nandigram, rein in the CPI(M) cadre and police and take all steps necessary to restore law and order and constitutional governance."
"People are talking about industrialization. NDA is also not opposed to industrialization. Lots of industries were set in Gujarat from where I have been elected to Lok Sabha, but there land is not acquired forcibly by the state government," Advani noted.
"Industrialists had to pay the market price to buy land in Gujarat. The State Government had not interfered with it. But the method adopted in West Bengal is wrong," he explained.
"Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya is now isolated not only from the left front partners, but even the person, who is his inspiration, Jyoti Basu has also turned against him," he warned.
"Following the Nandigram incident, the Central Government should issue directions to the State Government under powers enshrined in Article 355," he said.
Article 355 mandates the Union or Central Government to protect states against external aggression and internal disturbance to ensure that the governance of every state is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
The demand for a resolution and invoking Article 355 for restoration of law and order, unlike the Congress party that wants imposition of President's Rule in the state, was made along with the demand for sending Central Paramilitary Forces (CPF) to Nandigram, compensation to those killed in the violence, security to Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee and unrestricted access to the media to the affected areas. The BJP also wants a categorical assurance that the state government would withdraw its proposal for setting up a SEZ in Nandigram.
"We will rake up the Nandigram issue continuously in the Lok Sabha till people get justice," BJP MP Sushma Swaraj said.
CPI(M) would have to go from West Bengal following Wednesday's police firing, she said.
"When the King tortures his own people then it is the end of his rule," she said, raising slogans against the CPI(M) and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.
Swaraj and Janata Dal–United JD(U) leader George Fernandes said criminal charges against the policemen should be brought and they should also be punished for raping women during the carnage.
Nation
Nandigram violence evokes nationwide protest, leaves WB Govt. red–faced
By: Jacob Chaterjee
Monday, 19 March 2007, 8:13 (IST)
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