As Nandigram continues to face violence and chaos under the regime of Buddhadeb Bhattachaya in West Bengal, the Left Front supporting the UPA government in the Centre is now clearly on the defensive. First, in a swift damage control exercise, it has decided to allow the UPA government to go ahead with formal talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with regard to the Nuclear Deal. This is a U-turn (even though the Left may not admit) because it contravenes on its earlier stand that once the government starts to talk to the IAEA, it will amount to operationalizing of the deal itself and hence withdrawal of support. Therefore besides being embarrassed by the happenings in Nandigram, where the CPM cadres have openly resorted to arms and terror, the Left appears to be realizing that its stand on the nuclear deal is out of sync with global reality. But rest assured, the Left will continue to make the right noises on its opposition to the United States and the nuclear deal if only to stay afloat as a political dead horse.
Not surprisingly, the Left party’s self-righteous values are coming to the fore, this time on the Nandigram issue, although one has to question on whether it has anything left to defend after the human tragedy and the total failure of the Left Front government in handling the situation. Even as the opposition BJP plans to disrupt Parliament proceedings on the Nandigram issue, the Left parties have now come out with another ploy i.e. not to allow Nandigram to be raised in Parliament. As per the Left, Nandigram issue was a “state law and order subject” which could not be discussed in Parliament as rules did not permit such matters to be raised. So much so for the Left’s wisdom on rules and convention forgetting the human tragedy unfolding in Nandigram. After attempting to gag the media, now an attempt is being made to even silence Parliament.
There is a larger debate to the current controversy over Nandigram as the genesis of the problem lies in the land acquisition policy. Even with regard to Singur for the proposed Tata Motors plant, the court had slammed the Buddhadeb government for using “fraudulent methods” to acquire land. Whether it is Singur, Nandigram or any other place, majority of farmers and landowners are illiterate and the politicians or government officials take due advantage either to deliberately keep them in the dark by not divulging details or lure them to part with their land rights. The question of land, forests and resources are all national issues but which the Left appears to be undermining.
It will be now advisable for policy makers both in the Centre and State to work out a clear cut method of acquiring land needed for development or other big project without in any way exploiting the poor and illiterate whose livelihood in all probability is rooted to their land and the rights they enjoy over it. For those in the periphery of economic development, land is the only means of livelihood and this right cannot be taken away to satisfy the profit motive of big industries.
