Author: Express news service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 14, 2007
URL: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Buddhadeb-tells-these-hapless-faces-we-paid-you-back-in-the-same-coin/238990/
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on
Tuesday publicly endorsed the entry of CPM cadres in Nandigram's villages
and said that the Opposition there had been "paid back in the same coin".
Bhattacharjee, however, admitted that it was
"shameful" the state police had failed to stop cadres but also said
the administration had no other option because it was "helpless".
The CM said, "CPM cadres were legally
and morally justified in entering Nandigram armed. For 11 months, members
of the Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) ruled Nandigram unopposed.
They evicted our cadres and tortured them. The police could not enter either
because I did not want a repeat of March 14. Our people retaliated in desperation.
The Opposition has been paid back in the same coin." Bhattacharjee announced
defiantly that he was the chief minister of the whole state, including that
of BUPC members.
Bhattacharjee justified this outburst stating
that "operation recapture" could have been avoided if columns of
the CRPF had been deployed early. "The forced entry of cadres in Nandigram's
villages would not have happened had the CRPF arrived on time. We wrote to
the Centre on October 27 requesting for additional forces. On November 5,
the Centre wrote back saying it was unable to provide us the force. I personally
spoke to Home Minister Shivraj Patil and External Affairs Minister Pranab
Mukherjee and asked again. On November 10, we were told they would arrive
on November 12. If the Centre had taken prompt action on my request, cadre
activity in Nandigram could have been prevented," Bhattacharjee said.
The CM scoffed at those who are drawing parallels
between his actions in Nandigram and former Congress chief minister Siddhartha
Shankar Ray's excesses post- Emergency. "Those who are comparing me with
Siddhartha don't know him properly. If intellectuals in the city want me to
resign, I can only hope they will change their minds soon," he said.
Meanwhile, the Opposition has reacted sharply
to Bhattacharjee's comments. Trinamool Congress general secretary Mukul Roy
said, "Bhattacharjee is a fascist and a killer. He has no right to sit
on the chief minister's chair, even for a minute. He should be behind bars."
Left Front partner, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), termed Bhattachajree's
comments "provocative and uncultured".
RSP state secretary Debabrata Bandopadhyay
said, "We do not believe in this brand of politics."
We paid you back in the same coin: Buddhadeb
PWD minister and RSP leader Kshiti Goswami
said on Tuesday he did not support the recapture of Nandigram at gunpoint.
He said, "The CPM is realistic because it knows that public memory is
short. It knows how to tackle situations. Opposition partners in the state
have become ineffective, almost showpieces. What the CPM says, it does. It
has taken several decisions without consulting us. The Left Front in Bengal
is in disarray."
The RSP held an emergency secretariat meeting
on Tuesday to discuss whether its ministers Kshiti Goswami and Manohar Tirkey
should resign from Bhattacharjee's ministry.
Returning from Russia, Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh also had a chat with Bhattacharjee on Tuesday to know about what exactly
is going on in Nandigram, CPM sources said. Singh's call came when the Chief
Minister was on his way to Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi
after a press meet at the state secretariat.
