Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Bangalore, November 18, 2007: The struggle of Nandigram found an echo in Bangalore, when a small group of NGOs led by noted activist Medha Patkar, on Saturday raised their voices against the “genocide” in West Bengal.

“Nandigram has made it clear that the criminalisation of politics is from right to left. People there have faced martyrdom to stop the chemical hub. The scale of violence they have faced is unprecedented. Nandagudi should fight the battle as serious as Nandigram,” said Medha while addressing the group of activists and passers-by at the MG Road junction, near Mahatma Gandhi statue. She condemned West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya for the “forcible occupation of people’s territory” and “refusing to come for a dialogue.”

Lesson
“Nandigram has taught us a lesson that we don’t have to fight our battles in Assemblies and the Parliament but in our fields, from Singur and Nandigram to Nandagudi. We are against the vulgarisation of politics. We are with the downtrodden and unprotected classes and their fight for the right to resources,” she said. Terming special economic zones as “special exploitation zones”, Medha said the SEZs don’t care about communities and environment.

“In Nandigram, we are not just asking for compensation for the victims, but that peace should be restored. It should be real peace and not mashan shanthi (peace of graveyard). The integrated community should be back in Nandigram,” she demanded.

Position
Medha also held the Opposition party in West Bengal responsible for not taking a strong position on the issue. “They are protesting but not doing enough. The UPA Government should intervene but they are busy pursuing the 123 Agreement, for which they need the support of the Left parties. The intellectuals, artistes and film celebrities have come out in the open against Buddhadeb. The State is going to kill itself,” she said. Medha warned the people that Nandigram and Nandagudi are not one-time struggles.

“These will go on till the right of people to their land and resources is restored,” she added amidst slogans of ‘Down with SEZ’s” and “namma uru; nimma uru” (My village; your village).

Source: Deccan Herald