Pointing out that he was not against industrialization, the minister said he would support a SEZ being set up on wasteland, but not on fertile land.
"We should think about the future also. We cannot turn all the fertile land to industry. Then what will happen to our food security?" he asked.
"What can we say when our own government doesn't listen to its allies," said Abani Roy, RSP MP.
"The CPI(M) has lost all moral rights to be called a Left movement under a red flag, after the recent repressive act, the Buddhadeb Government in West Bengal needs to resign owning responsibility of the incident," CPI(ML) general secretary Deepanker Bhattacharya demanded.
"The way the government has tackled the issue is anti–people," said Asok Ghosh, state chief of the pro–communist All India Forward Bloc in West Bengal. "We have been repeatedly saying that we are being kept in the dark. If this goes on, we will have to pull out our ministers from the cabinet. We did not join this government to become ministers."
"It would have a cascading effect politically. It is clear that the action was well planned," Debabrata Biswas, general secretary of the All–India Forward Bloc, said.
West Bengal PWD (Public Welfare Department) Minister Kshiti Goswami, who represents the Left Front constituent Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), described the violence as "a black day in the 30–year rule of the Left in West Bengal."
"It is unfortunate and harrowing," he added.
The violence has even attracted the attention of octogenarian CPI(M) leader and former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu.
"What they (CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc) are saying is right. I also feel that the CPI(M) is running a one–party rule in this state. It doesn't look like a coalition government at all," Basu said. "The ministers of our allies are not given proper respect. The Left Front, the cabinet and even the core committee of the cabinet are being kept in the dark. This simply can't go on," he observed.
"Who ordered the firing? Who decided to send in the police? You must own up the responsibility of what has happened," Basu questioned Chief Minister Bhattacharya during the CPI's state secretariat meeting. "I have also heard that you are running this government in an arrogant manner," he said, warning, "This will not be tolerated any more."
Besides warning the present Chief Minister, the CPI(M) patriarch also cautioned Left Front chairman Biman Bose not to indulge in any act that might harm the unity of the Left Front. "From my long political experience I can tell you that the CPI(M) can't run this government alone. It must be a coalition government and we can't ignore our allies. Front's unity must be maintained," he said.
The secular Congress party which is leading the coalition UPA government at the Center and depends heavily on its formidable Leftist ally, is not mum either. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who had himself earlier praised West Bengal's efforts on industrialization, has now demanded a report from the state police.
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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